Investment opportunities: Pak-China economic ties getting stronger, says Shahbaz

Chinese engineering company expresses interest in investing in Saaf Pani project

LAHORE:

The economic progress made by China is a model for Pakistan, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday. He also said that the country could benefit from Chinese technology.

He was talking to a delegation of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, led by its president Zheng Xue Xuan. Matters regarding collaboration for infrastructure projects and Saaf Pani project came under discussion at the meeting. The corporation expressed interest in investing in Saaf Pani and other infrastructure projects in the Punjab.

“Pakistan-China ties are becoming stronger with the passage of time. The $46 billion investment package for Pakistan is a great gift by China. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are being completed speedily,” the CM said.

He said that CPEC projects were a game-changer for Pakistan. “The CPEC is a guarantee of progress and development. It is a splendid gift for the people of Pakistan from the Chinese leadership,” he said.

The chief minister said that the government was completing projects in energy, infrastructure and social sectors with its own resources. “Under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, a culture of transparent completion of development projects is being promoted,” the CM said.

He said that all facilities would be provided to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation to invest in the Punjab.

Xue Xuan said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had implemented development projects with high quality in the Punjab. He said that there were a number of investment opportunities in Pakistan, especially in the Punjab. “Cooperation with the Punjab government will be promoted in different sectors,” he said.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation overseas operations president Li Ji Qin, Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, Punjab Housing Minister Tanvir Aslam Malik and Punjab Saaf Pani Company Chairman Kashif Padhiyar were also present.

Tajik ambassador meets CM: Ambassador of Tajikistan in Pakistan Sherali S-Jononov met the chief minister on Saturday. Bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in various sectors came under discussion.

The chief minister said that there were strong relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan. “Both countries should work consistently for further strengthening trade, economic and social ties. Exchange of trade and business delegations can help promote economic relations between the two countries. Economic cooperation will be increased with close contact between traders and business communities of both the countries,” he said.

The Tajik ambassador said that Shahbaz Sharif had taken exemplary steps for the welfare of people. “Our country wants to strengthen economic and trade relations with Pakistan, especially with the Punjab,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2016.