Shahbaz Sharif see off the students leaving for China to learn Chinese

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that young generation is guarantee to a bright future of Pakistan. He said that provision of resources for equipping the youth with modern knowledge is a useful investment and government will provide all out funds for this purpose.

 

He expressed these views while addressing first batch of 66 students selected for two-year Chinese language course, here today. Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Higher Education, Vice Chancellors and other officers concerned were present on the occasion.

He said that Punjab government has made a programme to send 500 youth to China for learning Chinese language. First batch of 66 students will leave for China tomorrow. He said that China has become the second biggest economic power of the world and has proved its mettle across the world.

He said that political, diplomatic and economic importance of China is established. Learning of Chinese language is the need of the hour.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has started a big programme for introducing Chinese language, history and culture. No doubt, this programme will increase friendship, economic cooperation and relations between the two countries.

The Chief Minister said that they are the ambassadors of the country and they have to earn a good name for the country through hard work, discipline, punctuality and high character and enhance the value of the green passport. He said that they have not only to learn Chinese language during two years’ course but also get knowledge about history and culture of China.

He said that they are future of the nation and it has high expectations of them. He said that all out resources will be utilized for the bright future of the country and the nation. He said that youth are equipped with courage and knowledge and they have to make their country prosperous. He said that Punjab government will send 500 girl and boy students to China for learning Chinese language and government will bear all the expenditure in this regard.

Addressing the students, Shahbaz Sharif said that after learning Chinese language, they have to play the role of master-trainers. He said that a bright future is waiting for them. He said that  those showing outstanding performance in the course will be encouraged and will be provided jobs in universities and colleges. He said that nation is spending resources on their course, therefore, they would have to pay attention to their course with hard work, determination and honesty and they have to get complete awareness about different aspects of Chinese language.

He said that hard work, punctuality, discipline observed by them during the course will enhance respect of the country. He said they have to prove through their character that Pak-China friendship is everlasting and Pakistanis and Chinese are brothers. He said as an elder brother and Khadim-e-Punjab it is his advice to them that instead of wasting time in China, they should pay full attention to their course. He said that they are going to such a country, which has made rapid development through hard work, commitment and determination and there is supremacy of law in that country, there is no gulf between the rich and the poor and equal opportunities of progress are available to all citizens.

He said that the present government is also determined to transform Pakistan in accordance with the vision of Quaid and Iqbal and achieve the goal of self-reliance through honesty, hard work and commitment. He said that China achieved independence in 1949 and was facing political economic and other challenges at that time but Chinese nation through hard work, countered these challenges and achieved progress.

Shahbaz Sharif said that China is a reliable and sincere friend of Pakistan and has stood by Pakistan in every hour of need. He said that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and a number of other countries are also friends of Pakistan but Pak China friendship is unprecedented. He said that friendship and economic cooperation with China is important in many respects. He said that China has become a big economic force and made tremendous progress in cement, steel, textile, energy and other sectors.

He said that China has proved to be a true friend of Pakistan by giving a historic economic package of 46 billion dollars. He said China has proved that a friend in need is a friend indeed. He said that the extraordinary investment package of China is taking a practical shape in the real sense and PML-N government has worked very hard to transform this package into reality. He said that it is not a loan but a practical proof of love, sincerity and friendship of China and is purely an investment which will accelerate economic activities and lakhs of job opportunities will be created.

The Chief Minister further said that Pakistan has received conditional aids, loans and grants from different countries but China is such a country which has given economic package without any condition. He said that Pakistan has got loans of 60 billion dollars during the last 68 years. He said that on the one hand there are loans of 60 billion dollars while on the other hand China is making investment of 46 billion dollars in Pakistan. He said that under investment package of China, projects are being set up speedily in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Balochistan and other parts of the country.

He said that loadshedding will be removed from the country with 36 billion dollar investment of China under CPEC. He said that work is speedily continuing on coal power plants of 1320 megawatt each in Sahiwal and Port Qasim and these power plants will start production of electricity by the end of 2017. Similarly, a mega project of generating power through solar energy is also being established in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur while Punjab government has also set up a 100 megawatt solar project with its own resources which is producing electricity, he added.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a corridor for generating electricity through wind has also been identified. He said that loadshedding will be eliminated forever from Pakistan with the completion of energy projects during next few years and darkness will be removed and the country will become prosperous. He said that China has given this big investment package unconditionally to Pakistan and made no demand to “Do More” which is proof of love of Chinese leadership with the people and leadership of Pakistan. He said that China and Pakistan are tied in the bonds of trust and sincerity.

The Chief Minister said that the historic CPEC package has changed the course of history in the country and will not only benefit Pakistan but the entire region. He said that a new era of progress and prosperity will user in not only in Pakistan but the entire region due to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said that CPEC is a game changer which can change the course of history of the entire region. He said that lakhs of job opportunities are being generated with the implementation of CPEC.

He said that we are proud of Chinese friendship and China has always supported the stance of Pakistan at international level. He said the mutual friendship of the both the countries in unprecedented. He said that judges, generals, policymakers, judiciary, traders and every segment of society will have to play its due role in the uplift of the country.

Referring to merit policy of Punjab government, Shahbaz Sharif said that culture of merit and transparency has been promoted in the province during the last eight years. He said all recruitments in education, police and other departments have been made on merit. Besides, selection of girl and boy students visiting China has also been made on merit. He said that merit is only way to development of the country and moving ahead therefore merit has been promoted at every level.

Chief Minister said that under this policy,  students have been selected for learning Chinese language course. He said that the first batch going to China include 48 sons and 18 daughters of the nation. He thanked Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, Pakistani Ambassador in China, Chief Secretary, Vice Chancellors and the committee for the course as due to their untiring efforts the first batch is being sent to China for the course.

Shahbaz Sharif said that he will also meet them during his visit to China and review the progress. Replying to the questions of students, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan is more of the poor than of the rich. He said that Pakistan will become the country of Quaid and Iqbal only when the gulf between the rich and the poor is eliminated. He said that Pakistan has been put on the road to progress and prosperity. He said if we will ensure merit, the disappointment of common man will change into hope and he will consider  Pakistan as his country and the confidence of the youth will be restored.

Chinese Consul General Yu Boren said that it is an honor for him to participate in the ceremony. He said China and Pakistan are good neighbors, friends, partners and brothers and the friendship between both the countries is strengthening with the passage of time. He said that the role of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is commendable for enhancing Chinese friendship and economic cooperation.

Chinese Consul General will remain in contact with the university in Beijing and extend all out facilities to the students participating in the course in Chinese language.

The Chief Minister also gave laptops to the students going to China for learning Chinese.