Economic cooperation: Pakistan wants trade, not aid from UK, says Shahbaz
CM offers all-out help to revive hockey in Pakistam
PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
Pakistan favours trade and not aid from the United Kingdom, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday.
He was speaking to British Parliament Member Lord Nazir Ahmad who called on him.
“Pakistan accords great importance to its relations with Britain. We hope to transform the existing bilateral relationship into an economic partnership,” the chief minister said. He praised London for cooperating with the provincial government in various fields, including education.
Sharif said an Overseas Pakistanis Commission had been set up in the province to address problems faced by overseas Pakistanis. He claimed that the government had taken “revolutionary” steps in education, health, transport and infrastructure sectors. He said merit and transparency had been promoted. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s performance in local government elections depicted its popularity among people.
The chief minister said he was confident that the party would win the 2018 general elections.
Ahmad said various international institutions had praised the provincial government for its welfare policies.
Hockey
“Pakistan has dominated international hockey for many decades. Our players should work hard to reclaim their lost status in the world of hockey,” the chief minister said in a meeting with a delegation of International Hockey Federation (IHF), headed by its President Leandro Negree.
IHF Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fairweather and Asian Hockey Federation CEO Tayyab Ikram were also present.
Participants of the meeting discussed matters related to the promotion of hockey and organisation of international matches in the country.
The chief minister said the government had constructed new grounds with Astroturf. More hockey grounds were being built at educational institutions, he said. He said the focus was on promoting hockey at the grassroots level.
Sharif said he believed that sports played an important role in discouraging extremism. “That is why, we have developed new playgrounds and provided sports facilities across the province.”
Commenting on security, the chief minister said a remarkable milestone had been achieved in the country’s war on terrorism. “Pakistan Army has broken the back of terrorists and their facilitators. The security situation in the country has improved substantially,” he said.
He urged the IHF to play its role in bringing international teams to Pakistan. He assured the delegation that the government was ready to provide all-out cooperation in this regard.
He said the Zimbabwean cricket team had visited Lahore earlier this year. “We hope that international hockey teams, too, will visit Pakistan… this will help revive the game in Pakistan.”
Leandro Negree said that Pakistan had played an important role in the promotion of hockey. “There was a time when Pakistani hockey team was among the best. The nation should strive to regain its lost status in the sport. The IHF is ready to extend all- out support for the purpose,” he said.
He said security situation in Pakistan had improved. “The environment is conducive for the revival of international hockey in the country,” he said.
Minister for Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmad, the sports secretary, the Punjab Sports Board director general, Pakistan Hockey Federation President Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Shehbaz Ahmad were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2015.
Pakistan favours trade and not aid from the United Kingdom, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday.
He was speaking to British Parliament Member Lord Nazir Ahmad who called on him.
“Pakistan accords great importance to its relations with Britain. We hope to transform the existing bilateral relationship into an economic partnership,” the chief minister said. He praised London for cooperating with the provincial government in various fields, including education.
Sharif said an Overseas Pakistanis Commission had been set up in the province to address problems faced by overseas Pakistanis. He claimed that the government had taken “revolutionary” steps in education, health, transport and infrastructure sectors. He said merit and transparency had been promoted. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s performance in local government elections depicted its popularity among people.
The chief minister said he was confident that the party would win the 2018 general elections.
Ahmad said various international institutions had praised the provincial government for its welfare policies.
Hockey
“Pakistan has dominated international hockey for many decades. Our players should work hard to reclaim their lost status in the world of hockey,” the chief minister said in a meeting with a delegation of International Hockey Federation (IHF), headed by its President Leandro Negree.
IHF Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fairweather and Asian Hockey Federation CEO Tayyab Ikram were also present.
Participants of the meeting discussed matters related to the promotion of hockey and organisation of international matches in the country.
The chief minister said the government had constructed new grounds with Astroturf. More hockey grounds were being built at educational institutions, he said. He said the focus was on promoting hockey at the grassroots level.
Sharif said he believed that sports played an important role in discouraging extremism. “That is why, we have developed new playgrounds and provided sports facilities across the province.”
Commenting on security, the chief minister said a remarkable milestone had been achieved in the country’s war on terrorism. “Pakistan Army has broken the back of terrorists and their facilitators. The security situation in the country has improved substantially,” he said.
He urged the IHF to play its role in bringing international teams to Pakistan. He assured the delegation that the government was ready to provide all-out cooperation in this regard.
He said the Zimbabwean cricket team had visited Lahore earlier this year. “We hope that international hockey teams, too, will visit Pakistan… this will help revive the game in Pakistan.”
Leandro Negree said that Pakistan had played an important role in the promotion of hockey. “There was a time when Pakistani hockey team was among the best. The nation should strive to regain its lost status in the sport. The IHF is ready to extend all- out support for the purpose,” he said.
He said security situation in Pakistan had improved. “The environment is conducive for the revival of international hockey in the country,” he said.
Minister for Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmad, the sports secretary, the Punjab Sports Board director general, Pakistan Hockey Federation President Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Pakistan Hockey Federation Secretary Shehbaz Ahmad were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2015.