Economic development: ‘Facilities for Chinese textile sector will be replicated here’

CM says agreements signed between China and provincial government are in energy, vocational training, textile etc

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that facilities provided to the textile sector in the garments city of China will be replicated in the Punjab.

Talking to the media during a visit to Jimo City before his departure for Pakistan, the CM said that a number of important agreements had been signed between China and the provincial government in energy, vocational training, textile, infrastructure and transport sectors.

Earlier, Sharif visited the economic development zone in Jimo City. He took special interest in a one-window service centre and an international pavilion in the zone. He reviewed provision of various modern facilities to investors. He also visited textile and garments industries.

Speaking to a delegation of Chinese investors and officials, Sharif said that following the Chinese model he would set up service centres in the Punjab to facilitate investors. The CM said the use of the term Punjab Speed to refer to the speedy implementation of agreements in energy sector in the province was an honour not only for him but also for all the province’s residents. He said the provincial government was using all its resources to meet the expectations of Chinese government and the ruling Communist Party.

Speaking to garments sector investors, Sharif said Chinese garments were very popular throughout the world. He said the Punjab was an ideal place for investing in the garments sector. He said the investors should keep in mind that there would be no need for power load-shedding by the next year. He said abundant electricity would be available in the national grid for supply to the industry.

The chief minister said that maximum possible facilities would be provided to foreign investors so that progress and prosperity of the province could be ensured. He said industrial growth would help create jobs for the unemployed youth.

Sharif said that the unprecedented welcome accorded to him by the CPC showed that there was complete agreement between the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the CPC regarding progress and prosperity of Pakistan. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects had taken the two countries’ friendship to a new height. He said around 50 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the provincial government and Chinese administration during his visit. “Work on these agreements will be completed speedily,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2016.