CM discusses promotion of bilateral relations with Netherlands ambassador

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LAHORE: Ambassador of Netherlands Ardi Stoios-Braken called on Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.

During the meeting, different matters of mutual interest including promotion of bilateral relations and increase in cooperation in different sectors came under discussion.

On the occasion, the CM said that Pakistan and Netherlands enjoy good cordial relations. He said that Netherlands has exclusive expertise in livestock, agriculture, dairy farming and water management sectors.

He said that Punjab is an agrarian province and promotion of agricultural economy is the priority of the government and that there is a tremendous potential to increase mutual cooperation in agriculture sector between the two countries. “We are keen to enhance cooperation with Netherlands in the energy sector as well and both the countries are needed to further expand their economic corporation,” he added.

He said that the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has completed energy projects of thousands of megawatts capacity in a record period of time and the load-shedding has been eliminated due to the completion of these projects. He added that the Punjab government has installed a 400-megawatts solar power plant while more work is in progress on 300-megawatts power plants.

Meanwhile, he said that thousands of megawatts electricity has been generated from the gas-based power projects. He added that the menace of terrorism and fanaticism have been eliminated to a large extent and Pakistan has rendered immortal sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

He furthermore added that officers of Pakistan army and the police, ordinary citizens and people from every walk of life have sacrificed their lives in the war against terror and it is due to these sacrifices that Pakistan has become a peaceful country and the investments have been increased. He stated that vast opportunities for investment are available in different sectors in the Punjab and foreign investors have been provided special facilities for investment.

On the occasion, the Netherland envoy said that many opportunities of cooperation are available in the agriculture sector of Punjab, and added that her country is also desirous of promoting cooperation with the province in livestock and dairy development sectors. “Pakistan is a peaceful country and steps would be adopted to enhance cooperation with the Punjab government in different sectors,” she added.

Punjab Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, P&D secretary, Lahore Solid Waste Management Company MD and other concerned officials were present on the occasion.