DG WTO Roberto Azevedo meets Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Director General World Trade Organization (WTO) Roberto Azevedo met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here today. the WTO assured Punjab government of helping in eliminating child labour and providing technical assistance in different sectors.

Director General WTO congratulated Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on fully benefitting from information technology in social sectors especially education and elimination of child labour and said that Shehbaz Sharif has taken effective steps for the welfare of the masses.

He said that partnership will be strengthened with Punjab government. He said that Pakistan is moving in the right direction and effective reforms have been introduced for the strengthening of economy and promotion of investment. He said that a conducive atmosphere for investment exists in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that vast opportunities of investment are available in Punjab and government is providing all out facilities to investors. He said that Punjab government has promoted the culture of transparency and quality completion of projects.

He said that entire land record of rural areas has been computerized under Land Record Management Information System. He said that computerization of land record is a big achievement of Punjab government and it has curbed corruption. He said that a sum of Rs.14 billion has been spent on this historic project and World Bank has declared it the best project of the world.

Shahbaz Sharif said that government is determined to eliminate energy crisis and terrorism. He said that electricity projects of thousands of megawatts are being set up at a cost of billions of dollars under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said that federal and Punjab government are setting up gas-based power projects of 3600 megawatts with their own resources and 10000 megawatts electricity will be added to the national grid by the beginning of 2018 which will help control energy crisis.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is implementing a big programme of skill development and thousands of youth have been imparted various skills according to market needs. He said that the scope of this programme, started in four districts of south Punjab, is being extended to the whole province. He said that Punjab government is focusing on promotion of quality education in the province.

He said that more than 1.5 lakh brilliant students facing financial problems are studying in local and foreign educational institutions with the help of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. Likewise, opportunities of quality education have been provided to more than 15 lakh boys and girls of poor families through Punjab Education Foundation. The Chief Minister said that technical assistance of WTO in different sectors will be appreciated.

Director General WTO invited Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Geneva. Federal Minister for Trade Khurram Dastagir Khan, Provincial Minister for Minerals Sher Ali Khan, Policy & Legal Advisor to Director General WTO Ms. Jung Aegyoung, permanent envoy of Pakistan in WTO Dr. Tauqir Shah and senior authorities were also present on the occasion.