‘Break the begging bowl’

He said Metallurgical Corporation of China had vowed to complete a feasibility report of the project by the year's end

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the government’s decision to select a company to explore mineral wealth in the Chiniot-Rajwa area on merit had borne fruit with the discovery of iron ore and copper in the area.

Sharif was speaking at a function organised to mark the discovery of minerals in the area. He said past rulers had embezzled public funds by unilaterally awarding the tender for exploring iron ore to a company of their choosing. Sharif said the government had cancelled the contract after coming to power. He said Lahore High Court had upheld the government’s decision after the company took the matter to court.

He said the government had launched the project from its own pocket. He said the tender for the project had been awarded to the Metallurgical Corporation of China in a transparent manner. Sharif said the labour of 10 months had culminated in the discovery of the reserves.

He said the time was ripe to ‘break the begging bowl’ that had been haunting the nation since independence.

Sharif said the government would use the reserves to bring about an industrial revolution, alleviate poverty, end unemployment and expedite national development. He said world-leading businesses would be invited to invest in the area.

Sharif said the discovery of the reserves had disheartened the ‘enemies of nation and warmed the hearts of its friends.’ He said Metallurgical Corporation of China had vowed to complete a feasibility report of the project by the end of the year.

Sharif said the government had been striving to ensure that the report was completed before the stipulated date.

He said the nation would be able to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2015.