Investors Leaders discuss plans to change the destiny of the masses

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that we all have to work jointly for making Pakistan a developed and prosperous country.

The Chief Minister said that vast opportunities exist in Pakistan and we have to change challenges into opportunities through hard work and honesty. He stressed upon local investors to make maximum investment in the country and play their due role for changing destiny of 18 crore people.

He expressed these views while addressing Investors Leaders Conference arranged by Punjab Investment Board at Chief Minister’s Office, here today. Chairman Punjab Investment Board Abdul Basit, CEO Ilyas Ghauri, CEO Telenor Pakistan Michael Foley and renowned industrialist Mian Mansha also addressed the conference.

Shahbaz Sharif said that despite difficult situation, Pakistan became atomic power and now its defense is impregnable. He lamented that on the one side there is atomic power while on the other begging bowl. He said that there is lot of scope for enhancing tax base but transparent and proper utilization of collected tax is need of the hour.

The Chief Minister said that we have to generate resources for our people through hard work, scientific research and untiring efforts. He said that judges, generals, politicians, bureaucrats and all segments of the society will have to play their role for steering the country out of difficult situation. He said that terrorism has caused irreparable loss to national economy. He said that 50 thousand Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in this war. Shahbaz Sharif said that Pak-Army is fighting against terrorists bravely. He expressed the hope that Pakistan will rid of the menace of terrorism and become haven of peace. He said that the sit-ins and protest politics of last year also created hindrance in the development journey of the country and development projects including energy were delayed due to sit-ins politics. He said that we have to march forward by learning lesson from past mistakes. He said that Pakistan is facing problem of political, economic and social survival but we have to divert the course of history through collective efforts.

The Chief Minister said that present government has introduced the culture of good governance, transparency and speedy completion of quality development projects. He said that due to government policies, foreign investment is being made in the country. He said that China has given investment package of 46 billion dollars to Pakistan. He said that Chinese investors are making investment in all energy projects.

Shahbaz Sharif said that investment is not the job of the government but it has to provide conducive atmosphere and best facilities for investment. Despite it, Punjab government has completed 100 megawatt solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur from its own resources, he added.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is also setting up 1200 megawatt electricity plant. He said that Pakistani bankers, investors and business community are ambassadors of the country, therefore, they should make maximum investment in it. He said that power sector is of great importance for our survival and development of economy. He said that government is making sincere efforts for eliminating energy crisis.

Shahbaz Sharif said that work is continuing speedily on energy projects of billions of dollars throughout the country. He said that we have to change the course of the history by adopting golden principles of hard work, trust and honesty. He said that National Bank and Habib Bank have given underwriting of 84 billion rupees for the project generating energy through gas. He said that other banks and investors should also come forward for investment in energy sector.

Provincial Ministers, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Ambassador of Italy in Pakistan, industrialists, investors and representatives of investment companies as well as senior officials of Punjab government attended the conference.