a delegation of Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce and Industry call on CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that a large scope of investment exists in the energy, livestock, IT and other sectors of Punjab. He said Punjab government is providing all out facilities and incentives to foreign investors, therefore they should take benefit from existing investment opportunities in the province. He said there is a need for further promoting trade and industrial ties between Pakistan and Britain.

Chief Minister was talking to a delegation of Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here at Model Town today, President of UK Chamber of Commerce Razi Khan, General Secretary Kamran Khan, Muhammad Siddique, Najib Khan, Mashhood Ahmed Awan, besides Special Assistant to Chief Minister Zaeem Hussain Qadri, MNA Pervaiz Malik, Secretaries of Energy & Industries, Chairman Punjab Industrial Estate SM Tanvir and concerned officials were present. During the meeting, views were exchanged to further promote trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Britain.

Talking to the delegation, Chief Minister said that a modern slaughter house, at a cost of two billons rupees, has been established in Punjab, which would enhance meat export of the country, as production of meat, in accordance with international hygienic principles has been ensured. He observed that Pakistan can play effective role in the big market of halal meat, while exports can also be increased by enhancing milk production. He said Punjab government is working vigorously for the welfare and prosperity of the people, however, due to loadshedding, economic and commercial activities have been negatively affected. He said energy crisis has increased unemployment, whereas corruption, bad governance, extremism and terrorism have jammed the national economic wheel, as the federal government has completely failed to meet all these big challenges. Chief Minister said that Punjab government is implementing different energy projects from is own resources. He said work on solar energy projects is continuing, with the cooperation of foreign companies, in Punjab. He pointed out that a well-coordinated strategy has been adopted to promote public-private partnership in commerce, industry and investment sectors. He said expatriate Pakistanis are ambassadors of the country, who are playing their vigorous role in strengthening the national economy. Chief Minister assured that all-out steps would be taken to solve the problems being faced by Pakistani industrialists based in Britain.

The President of Pak-UK Chamber of Commerce, Razi Khan and other members of the delegation, said that they are willing to work with the Punjab government in different sectors. They said they appreciate the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for providing necessary facilities and amenities to the foreign investors. During the meeting, while Chief Minister was talking about energy crisis, the electricity failed, upon which he said that, due to incompetence of the federal government, the nation has still not got rid of the scourge of loadshedding, even after five years.