CPEC has taken Pak-China friendship to new heights: Sharif

Punjab CM says a number of important agreements signed in energy, vocational training, textile, infrastructure, transport sectors

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has taken Pakistan-China friendship to new heights, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said while talking to Chinese investors and media during his visit to Jimo City on Friday before returning to Pakistan.

According to Sharif, about 50 agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed between the Punjab government and China during his visit to China along with a Pakistani delegation. Of these, 20 were agreements and the remaining were MoUs, he said, adding these were not traditional agreements and would be implemented speedily.

The chief minister said that a number of important agreements were signed between China and Punjab in the sectors of energy, vocational training, textile, infrastructure and transport for accelerating the pace of implementation of the existing agreements. Sharif said that the Chinese leadership and people had won the hearts of the Pakistani delegation during its visit to China.

The CM said that the term ‘Punjab Speed’ with regards to pace of implementation of agreements in the energy sector in the province was not only an honour for him but also for the Punjab government and people of the province. He said the provincial government was utilising all its energies for coming up to the expectations of the Chinese government and ruling party.

Addressing Chinese investors in the garments sector, Sharif said Chinese garments were very popular throughout the world, including western countries. He said that Punjab was an ideal place for investment and the investors should keep in mind that load shedding would be overcome by the next year and abundant electricity would be available for industry.

Sharif, replying to a question, said that maximum facilities would be provided to foreign investors as his efforts were directed towards progress and prosperity of the province. He said that setting up of industries and creation of job opportunities would result in prosperity of the masses.

In reply to another question, Sharif said that by the unprecedented welcome accorded to him the Communist Party of China had proved that there was complete harmony between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Communist Party of China with regards to progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

CM Sharif also visited economic development zone in Jimo City China where he saw various sections of the economic development zone and took special interest in service centre under one window operation and international pavilion. He reviewed provision of modern facilities to investors.

Sharif also visited textile and garments industries in Jimo City.

Talking to Chinese investors and senior officials, he said that he had made China his model and modern service centres would also be set up in Punjab on the same pattern. He said that he was deeply impressed by the modern facilities available in textile and garments city and the same model would be replicated in Punjab.