Commends DFID’s cooperation with Punjab in meeting with British high commissioner
British High Commissioner in Pakistan Philip Barton met Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday and discussed matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation in different sectors.
Talking to the British high commissioner, the chief minister said that there were historical and friendly relations between Pakistan and Britain. He said that Britain was an important trade partner of Pakistan and was extending commendable cooperation in education, health and other social sectors.
He stressed the need for further promotion of trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Britain and said that the two countries should take steps in this regard. Sharif said that various programmes in education, health and skills development sector were successfully running in Punjab with the cooperation of British Department for International Development (DFID).
He said that promotion of education could help in curbing the trend of extremism and terrorism. Therefore, Punjab government was paying special attention to uplift of this sector and state-of-the-art Daanish schools had been established in less developed districts of the province where quality education was being provided to the students.
The chief minister further said that jobs had been provided to the youth by imparting them various skills under skills development programme and that the scope of the programme was being expanded. He said that skill development programme had enabled thousands of youths to achieve gainful employment. Similarly, he said, a programme was being implemented with the cooperation of DFID with regard to public health especially mother and child care. He said that relations between Pakistan and Britain had strengthened under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Chief Minister said that Punjab government wanted to expand cooperation with Britain in the development of social sector.
British High Commissioner Philip Barton said on the occasion that Britain attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan. He said that cooperation with Pakistan would be continued for its progress and development. He said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken practical and commendable measures for the progress and prosperity of the people of the province and was serving the masses with commitment and determination.