Chinese will explore and evaluate iron quality in Chiniot:CM Punjab

Lahore: A historic agreement was signed between Punjab government and Chinese Company, Metallurgical Corporation of China for exploring iron reserves in Rajua (Chiniot) at Chiniot today.

According to the agreement, the Chinese company will give final opinion about the quality and quantity of the iron deposits under the land within ten months. This agreement will pave the way for setting up first Pakistani steel mill in Punjab to be run with local iron.

Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Provincial Minister for Mineral Chaudhary Sher Ali, Chairman Punjab Mineral Corporation Sumar Mubarrak Mand, Secretary Mineral Development Dr. Arshad Mehmood and officials of Chinese company were present.

While addressing a public meeting on the occasion of signing of the agreement with a Chinese company for exploring iron reserves at Municipal Hockey Stadium Chiniot, Shahbaz Sharif said that it is unfortunate that despite the fact that our country is rich in mineral resources, we are roaming around the world with a begging bowl.

Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N government has given up this practice and the height of development will be achieved through benefiting from indigenous resources, Pakistan will be made self-reliant and the Chiniot agreement is an important step in this direction.

Shahbaz Sharif said that today is a historic day as the promise made with the people for exploring iron reserves is being fulfilled. He said that during the era of dictator Pervez Musharraf, the contract of this important project was given to an unknown American company of a Pakistani at throwaway price illegally and without observing rules and regulations which was very unfortunate but the present government paid attention to this fraud and forced the thieves and dacoits to run away and the court also gave verdict keeping in view country’ interest.

The Chief Minister said that we worked round the clock for forwarding this project and three secretaries of Mineral Department who showed negligence in implementation of the project of mineral reserves were transferred to other provinces. He said that those officers who cannot serve the people are his enemy. Shahbaz Sharif said that today he is successful before the people of Chiniot as the agreement has been made with the Chinese company. He said that some people are of the view that there are no reserves of oil and gas in the Punjab but with the blessings of Allah Almighty the land of Chiniot is rich in mineral resources. He said that a target of 10 months instead of 18 months has been given to Chinese company to explore the iron reserves.He said that if these resources were explored in the land of saints, the destiny of Pakistani generation will be changed.

The Chief Minister said that the agreement with the Chinese company is an important step towards development and prosperity of the people and the country. He said that if iron reserves of high quality were explored, a big steel mill of the world will be set up in this area and job opportunities will be available to the local young engineers. He said that if he can complete metro bus project within a few months, the iron reserves will also be explored within a short period with the cooperation of Chinese company.

Shahbaz Sharif said that three or four friendly countries have always supported Pakistan and China is one of them which always played important role in the development of Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif said that during his visit to China in February, Chinese leadership announced to provide a sum of 32 billion dollars for various projects in Pakistan which is the biggest economic package in the history of the country. He said that Saudi Arabia has also given a gift of one and a half billion dollars to Pakistan without any condition which reflects complete confidence of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He congratulated the people of Chiniot and asked them to take care of their Chinese guests. The Chief Minister announced to make Chiniot-Faisalabad road a dual carriage way and said that more developmental gifts will be given to this district while he would come to this area frequently to review the pace of progress of this project.

The Chief Minister said that merit, transparency and rules and regulations were observed while making agreement with Chinese company for exploration of iron reserves. He said that the Chinese company with which the agreement has been signed is considered one of the best companies of the world. The Chief Minister appreciating the efforts of Provincial Minister for Mineral Development Ch. Sher Ali and Secretary Mineral Development Dr. Arshad Mehmood said that they are working very hard for this project. He paid tributes to Chairman Punjab Mineral Corporation Samar Mubarrak Mand who fully assisted in making atomic bomb and expressed the hope that Samar Mubarrak Mand will also play his fullest and effective role in exploring iron reserves in Chiniot.

Earlier, representative of Metallurgical Corporation of China Yu Jiangi said that his company is not a stranger in Pakistan and has been participating in the process of development of Pakistan since 1980. Chairman Punjab Mineral Corporation Samar Mubarrak Mand said that utilization of modern technology through better education is the guarantee to a glorious future for the nation. He described completion of Chiniot project as very useful for the economy of Pakistan and expressed the hope that copper reserves would also be discovered. He said that gold and silver can also be found with copper. Provincial Minister for Mineral Development Chaudhary Sher Ali said that every effort will be made for furthering this project under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

He said that exploration of iron deposits will totally change the economy of Pakistan and the next step would be the setting up of a big steel mill which will promote iron industry in the country.

Member National Assembly Qaisar A Sheikh and Member Provincial Assembly Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti during their address thanked Chief Minister Punjab for his visit to the area and the keen interest shown by him in the pace of progress of the project.