A high-level Chinese delegation Tuesday led by China Three Gorges Corporation Chairman Lu Chun met Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Matters regarding investment in energy sector in Punjab especially in small hydel projects and promotion of cooperation were discussed in the meeting. The China Three Gorges Corporation expressed willingness to cooperate with Punjab in small hydel projects and assured that a delegation of experts will soon visit the province for this purpose.
Talking to the Chinese delegation, the chief minister said China is a sincere and reliable friend of Pakistan. He said new avenues of economic cooperation have opened between China and Pakistan during the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said economic package of $ 46 billion given by China is an invaluable gift for Pakistan and reflects the full confidence of the Chinese president in the leadership of PM Nawaz Sharif and deep love for Pakistani nation.
Sharif said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a game changer for the region including Pakistan. He said work has been started speedily on various projects under the CPEC and the people of the whole of country will benefit from these projects. He said the Punjab government has taken effective measures for the completion of CPEC projects within the stipulated period. He said that work is in progress speedily on a 1320 MW coal power project in Sahiwal while a 900 MW solar project is being set up at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur. He said transparency, standard and speedy completion of projects is hallmark of the Punjab government, therefore, foreign investors are coming to the province and are being provided facilities on priority basis.
He said that there is a vast scope for investment in solar, wind, especially small hydel projects in Punjab and China Three Gorges Corporation should consider cooperation with the Punjab government and benefit from the vast opportunities available in energy sector in the province. He assured that all-out facilities will be provided for this purpose. China Three Gorges Corporation Chairman Lu Chun said CM Sharif is working very hard for the implementation of energy projects and his extraordinary abilities and capacity to work speedily is also appreciated in China. He said China Three Gorges Corporation will cooperate with Punjab government in energy sector especially in small hydel projects and a team of Chinese experts will soon visit Punjab for reviewing the scope of cooperation. He said that his company has full confidence in CM Sharif who has provided facilities on priorities basis to foreign investors in the province.