Pakistan wants strong economic relations with Britain:CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan wants meaningful, result oriented and strong economic relations with Britain. He said that besides vast opportunities of economic cooperation in energy sector, British investors should also benefit from investment opportunities in textile, livestock and dairy farming sectors.

He expressed these views during a special meeting with Britain Minister for International Development Ms Justine Greening and members of her delegation. Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, British High Commissioner Adam Thompson, Provincial Ministers, Begum Zakia Shahanawaz, Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada, Hamida Waheed ud Din, Assembly Members Malik Pervez, Marvi Memon, officials of international Monetary Institutions, DFID, industrialists, investors, bankers and office bearers of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry attended the meeting.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that inefficiency and irregularities of previous government ruined the country’s economy but due to the efforts of present government, national economy would soon be put on the road to progress. He said that running factories was not the job of government but has to evolve such policies as could ensure economic development. The Chief Minister said that provision of equal opportunities to the youth and women in economic development and creation of ten lakh new job opportunities every year through public-private partnership is included in the economic development vision of Punjab. He said that government is committed to provide exemplary and conducive atmosphere to the investors in Punjab where complete protection and every facility would be provided to the foreign investors.

British Minister for International Development Ms Justine Greening said that UK highly values economic cooperation to Pakistan and will continue all possible efforts in this regard. She said that overcoming energy crisis, infrastructure development and foreign investment is of utmost importance for achieving the vision of economic development.

Industrialists, office-bearers of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and investors said that due to the establishment of government with heavy public mandate, the confidence of local investors has increased. They also congratulated Punjab Chief Minister on his successful visit to China.