Punjab and Iran are best friends: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and Iran have deep rooted friendly relations and there is unanimity of views between the two countries on different issues while their people are bound together in strong bonds of love and brotherhood. He said bilateral ties between Iran and Pakistan can be further strengthened through promotion of economic cooperation. He said that Punjab government is fully encouraging foreign investment in the province.
He was talking to Iranian Consul General Hossein Baniasadi during a meeting on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Food Abdul Ghafoor, Special Assistant Zaeem Hussain Qadri, secretaries of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation departments and representatives of Punjab Investment Board were also present on the occasion. The CM said Pakistan’s relations with brotherly Islamic country of Iran span over centuries and Iranian language and literature as well as culture and civilization had left a deep impact on Pakistani society and social setup. He said Pakistan’s national language Urdu also owes a lot to Persian language. He said after independence in 1947, Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan at the diplomatic level and the long history of fraternal relations between the two countries is marked by love and sincerity between the people of the two countries. He said in order to benefit from the economic opportunities and expansion of modern technology it was essential that quality education should be promoted for preparing the youths to meet the future challenges. He said Punjab government was pursuing the policy of maximum investment in education sector for developing human resource on modern lines. He said this policy would result in availability of experts to the country in different sectors.
The CM further said infrastructure was being developed in Punjab with foreign cooperation and the work on metro bus service project of international standard was being carried out expeditiously. He said that the scope of this project of public importance will be extended to other big cities of the province as well. He said a favourable environment for foreign investment exists in Punjab and entrepreneurs were being provided necessary facilities and guidance through Punjab Investment Board. He said all out facilities were being offered for foreign investment in energy, livestock, agriculture, information technology and other sectors and Iranian investors should take full benefit of these opportunities. He said a modern slaughterhouse had been set up in Punjab and the food requirements of Iranian people could be met through the fresh and healthy halal meat packed under hygienic principles at the slaughterhouse equipped with modern technology and facilities. Shahbaz further said public welfare projects were being completed expeditiously in the province which had raised the living standard of the people and paved the way for rapid economic development. He said exchange of students, people and cultural delegations would promote bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan.
Baniasadi while expressing his satisfaction over the strong relationship between Punjab and Iran in different sectors said economic cooperation between the two countries will be further promoted. He said president of Tehran Chambers of Commerce will visit Lahore in July to explore new possibilities of economic cooperation between Punjab and Iran.