LAHORE, Oct 17 (APP): A high-level delegation led by Vice Governor of Ningxia Province of China, Wang Heshan met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here on Monday.
The meeting agreed upon promoting cooperation between the Punjab government and Ningxia Province in agriculture, industry, education, health and tourism sectors.
Talking to Vice Governor of Ningxia, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said relation of friendship between Pakistan and China was touching new heights. He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor had given new dimension to the relations between the two countries. He said the CPEC was a great gift by China for the people of Pakistan.
He said, “One belt, one road” vision of Chinese President Xi Jing Ping was the vision of peace, progress and prosperity in Asia and due to this vision, a new era of progress and prosperity would usher in the entire region.
He said practical steps would be taken for the promotion of cooperation in agriculture, industry, education, health and tourism sectors with Chinese province Ningxia so that both the provinces could benefit from the experiences and expertise of each other.
Referring to ongoing public welfare programmes, Shehbaz Sharif said the Punjab government had taken solid steps for speedy development of the province and prosperity of the masses. He said that transparency, high quality and speed were the hallmark of the projects of the Punjab government.
“Steps are being taken under an effective strategy for providing relief to the masses in energy, infrastructure, transport, education, health and other sectors in the province,” he added.
He said not only energy projects were being set up under CPEC in the province but the Punjab government was also establishing power plants from its own resources and work was being carried out speedily on energy projects.
The Chief Minister said 1320 Megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Project was a masterpiece of quality and speed. He said this project was to be completed in December 2017 but it would be completed by June 2017 with extraordinary speed of work.
“Federal and Punjab governments are working on 3600-megawatt gas based power projects,” he mentioned. He said the Punjab government had set up 100-megawatt project from its own resources in a record period at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur while 300 megawatt solar plant had been set up by Chinese investors in this solar park, resultantly an overall 400 megawatt electricity was being added into national grid from Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.
He said the government was developing infrastructure in accordance with world standard.
He said that millions of people were benefitting from comfortable, economical and modern transport facilities from Lahore and Pakistan Metro Bus projects whereas Multan Metro Bus Project was being inaugurated soon.
Similarly, work was also being carried out on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. He said Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project was a splendid gift by Chinese President and Prime Minister for the people of Pakistan and Chinese government had provided funding for this project.
Shehbaz Sharif said completion of this excellent project would result in provision of world standard, modern, economical and speedy transport facility to 250,000 people daily and this number would increase gradually to 500,000 per day.
The Chief Minister stressed upon the need of taking immediate steps for the promotion of cooperation in different sectors between the Punjab government and Chinese Province Ningxia. He said,”We will have to move forward speedily in this regard and take practical steps for enhancing cooperation in different sectors.”
He congratulated Vice Governor of Ningxia Wang Heshan on holding successful Pak-China Rally in connection with 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and said that holding of such activities would result in further promoting ties between the two countries.
Shehbaz Sharif said the visit of Vice Governor of Ningxia to Punjab would result in further enhancing the bonds between the provincial government and the Chinese Province and get an opportunity for benefitting from the experiences and expertise of each other.
Vice Governor of Ningxia said there was great potential in different sectors of Punjab especially it was his desire to promote cooperation with the Punjab government in agriculture, industry, education, health and tourism sectors and there was a need of continuous exchange of delegations between Ningxia and Punjab for enhancing cooperation in different sectors.
He said Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had worked day and night for strengthening Pak-China friendship and people of China loved Shehbaz Sharif.
He said he (Shehbaz) was working with determination and hard work for the welfare of people of Punjab and he had greatly impressed by his development vision. He invited the Chief Minister to visit Ningxia province.
Chairman Planning & Development gave a briefing regarding developmental strategy of Punjab.
Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, senior authorities of Ningxia Province of China, Provincial Ministers Ch. Muhammad Shafiq, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Asif Saeed Manhais, Kh. Ahmad Hassaan, Chief Secretary and senior officers were also present on the occasion.
