Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrives at the Beijing Airport, along with other dignitaries. PHOTO: NNI
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif categorically said on Wednesday that Pakistan was seeking self-reliance and self-sufficiency and, therefore, it does not want any foreign aid.
Speaking to The Express News from Beijing, where he is accompanying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz said PM Nawaz’s visit to China had great significance that will help promote ties between the Pakistanis and Chinese.
Shahbaz said Pakistan was no longer a country begging for foreign aid and Premier Nawaz’s visit was not to seek any charity from its ally because the government wanted to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. He said agreements about coal, hydro-electricity and bio-gas will be signed with China during the trip.
He said the country was facing a big challenge in tackling the energy crisis and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government was focusing on handling and finding a solution to the problem. “Load-shedding has ruined industries in Pakistan and the government is desperately working to bring the duration of the load-shedding down to eight hours a day.”
Pakistan, he explained, was fighting against terrorism as a front-line state and was committed to this fight.
Regarding the friendly ties enjoyed between the neighbours, Shahbaz said the friendship was “higher than the Himalayas and deeper than any ocean”.
“This friendship will be further strengthened through mutual cooperation. China is the superpower of the region. It has redefined its priorities and we also need to redefine ours.”
He said Pakistan was interested in working with China in sectors like power, education and health. On Thursday (today), the leadership of the two countries will discuss plans to construct the Kashghar-Gawadar-Karachi highway and operating the metro train in Karachi, Shahbaz explained.
Moreover, Shahbaz blamed that certain foreign powers wanted to destabilise Pakistan, but their conspiracies will be foiled with the people’s power. He said the people have given a mandate for change and the PML-N government will put all its efforts to bring about this change.
The Punjab chief minister added that as many as 25 agreements will be signed between Beijing and the Punjab government. He said, “Punjab and China will promote mutual relations and we shall also strengthen mutual economic relations.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (26)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731655243-0/BeFunky-collage-(61)1731655243-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731666526-0/Express-Tribune-(9)1731666526-0-270x192.webp "watch salat al istisqa offered across the country on prime minister s appeal")
1731668520-0/Express-Tribune-(11)1731668520-0-270x192.webp "jamaat e islami to stage protest on karachi s shahrah e faisal")
1731656720-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(44)1731656720-0-270x192.webp "constitutional bench can also take suo motu notice sc judge")
Nothing will change , those who live in mahals can never know the pains and suffering of people living in huts. What are they going to smuggle through 200 kms long tunnel? China is just using Pakistan and there is no long term vision in any of the investment project . How long can we make whole world fool by conning terms like access to central Asia or warm waters or strategic location ? No country in world can solve our problems, in fact we are in risk of repeating terrible history by jumping from lap of U.S to lap of China . Whole Pakistan is in serious danger of developing diabetes from this sweeter than honey thing with China.
Is he the only CM we have?
There is nothing wrong a State CM visiting foreign country. Indian CMs and American Governors do it all the time. However Pakistan's demands from China are absurd. How will China make roads in Pakistan or fix electricity problem? They can provide the financing but it is Pakistan that shall have to execute the projects. The power mess is caused not by shortage of capacity but by the fact that there is theft and mismanagement and consequently the producers are not getting paid, and have stopped supply. All these show that Pakistani politicians have a penchant for mismanagement exceptional even by the rather low standards of South Asia.
@khalsa: "hahaha..even for making road pakistan rushes to china" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thats cause all roads lead to China.
Hey Ali & other: On dress code. Blue = Democratic Yellow = Sickness, Weak Dress = Weak democracy which need everybody help to stand on its own feet. (By the way it does not mean it is begging but need real help to live * grow with honor) Mr. SS choose his dress very wisely. ( I think this man is dedicated toward his cause)
"China trip not to seek charity, says Shahbaz Sharif"
This is not the tone usually a Pakistani adopts wrt China.Does Shahbaz Sharif unhappy statement means China did not accept pakistan wishlist demand or anything else???
hahaha..even for making road pakistan rushes to china
@Ali: You pick the good one, it looks like naye roshni school uniform.
@ahmad: I agree with you. The Sindh Government is only interested in Land grabbing, extortion, abduction, and in supporting gangs like Peoples Amman Committee. They have no interest in development and progress. Sorry to say but go through Bhutto era, Benazir and the Great Asif Zardari period and tell me how much development was carried out in Sindh during their tenure. And sorry to say it again, but the truth is that the people in Interior Sindh also donot want any change or development for themselves. They only want Money Changers. Worship the Lords and Lords have both bread and bullet for them.
@HR
We give them a lot of business, yes a 'LOT' of business!
You know FTA right!
@SK i think it's more of a fashion to bash government on every initiative it takes. If the government is interested in metro train in Karachi, why not appreciate it. and btw we know how much government of Sindh is interested in Metro train for Karachi. It had government in center for 5 years yet it didn't even try to start the project.
"This friendship will be further strengthened through mutual cooperation." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So what will Pakistan do for China to make this friendship 'mutual'?
"Pakistan was seeking self-reliance and self-sufficiency " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Self-reliance and self-sufficiency start with self and not Beijing.
'Punjab and China' or Pakistan?
But Sharif sahib wouldnt mind if given.
What has Shahbaz Sharif got to do with metro railway in Karachi. This should be the job of a metropolitan government, or at a stretch, the provincial government of Sindh, not that of another province's chief minister.
"wazir azam ka cheen mein purtapak istaqbal"
I have serious doubts :)
other provinces should follow CM Punjab , and be active like him. this not his mistake other provinces are not moving.
@H: the Baloch CM is there. Honestly, check facts before judging?
I think it is a good thing ! Why bash everything people ?
Shahbaz blamed that certain foreign powers wanted to destabilise Pakistan, but their conspiracies will be foiled with the people’s power. This is what you need to make your brother understand. This is what the Public is crying for the last one decade............ you need to understand deeply and act accordingly........ Sovereignty stands above everything……….. what would be of the use developments if sovereignty is compromised?
Whatever he says, in actuality the truth is always the opposite.
"The Punjab chief minister added that as many as 25 agreements will be signed between Beijing and the Punjab government." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 25 Agreements for Punjab and about 10 for other provinces will make a total of about 100 agreemnts. Hope that the leased aircraft can carry the excess paper weight.
What about the other provinces SIR?
Why are the chief ministers of other provinces not there, and you are?
Yes it is.. Ask the Americans, Europeans, IMF, WB, ADB, Saudis, Qataris, Emiratis.....