- Shahbaz vows to establish world largest steel mill in Chiniot
- Signs agreement with Chinese company to explore iron reserves
Chiniot is an iron-rich region as large reserves of iron is buried in the area and with help of China these reserves would be extracted, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while vowing to establish world largest steel mill in Chiniot on Wednesday.
Shahbaz said this after signing of an agreement between the Punjab government and Chinese company, Metallurgical Corporation of China for exploring iron reserves in Rajua (Chiniot).
According to the agreement, the Chinese company will give final opinion about the quality and quantity of the iron deposits under the land within 10 months. This agreement will pave the way for setting up first Pakistani steel mill in Punjab to be run with local iron.
While addressing a public meeting after signing the agreement at Municipal Hockey Stadium Chiniot, Shahbaz 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.
The chief minister said that China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan and it would never let the people of Pakistan down. He said that Beijing wants to see Pakistan as a strong economy of the Asia and would invest more than $ 32 billion in communication, energy and other sectors in Pakistan.
Shahbaz said Saudi Arabia is also true friend of Pakistan which has gifted $ 1.5 billion to Pakistan to boost its economy.
He reiterated that the KSA has gifted this amount without any condition, adding that some elements were spreading negative propaganda against great friendship between two brother countries.
The chief minister said he has sacked all top officials from the Punjab Mineral Board for their inefficiency. He warned that the officials found guilty in delaying the iron exploration project would be sent behind the bars. He said that nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarak has been appointed as chief of Punjab Mineral Board.
PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY:
In Lahore, Shahbaz Sharif told party workers and assembly members that the PML-N government was committed to putting the country back on the road of progress and prosperity.
He said that revolutionary development agenda for the welfare of masses had been implemented while dozens of development schemes had also been launched throughout the province.
He maintained that a phase-wise improvement had been made in health, education, infrastructure and other sectors under a comprehensive strategy.
Under the Punjab Khidmat Card programme, he said, financial aid would be extended to the poorest families to facilitate them to look after their members.
Shahbaz said that electricity dearth had become a serious issue and overcoming energy problem was vital for the development of industrial and trade sectors, promotion of investment, elimination of unemployment and resolving of economic problems of the people.
He said that the government attached top priority to resolve energy crisis and was taking practical measures for attracting foreign investment in the energy sector.
The assembly members and party workers paying tribute to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his revolutionary public welfare agenda, said that the Punjab would become a model province and living standard of the masses would be improved under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif.