LAHORE: Finance Advisor to Prime Minister of Pakistan Miftah Ismail called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday. During the meeting, matters related to the strengthening of the economy and ongoing projects initiated under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were also discussed.
On the occasion, the chief minister said the goal of a self-reliant and prosperous Pakistan is the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government’s mission adding that all-out resources are being utilised for the purpose. He said that sufficient improvements have been brought in the national economy due to the solid economic policies of the government and trade and industrial activities have been increased in the province. It is heartening that effective steps taken by the government to strengthen the economy have bear fruit.
The rehabilitation of the sagging economy that the government inherited is a marvelous achievement of PML-N government. Due to the effective development strategy of the government and the increased investments, trade and economic activities have been boosted and thousands of new job opportunities have been created. The CPEC is a huge initiative for national development and prosperity, and a lot of CPEC related projects have been completed across the country, said CM Shehbaz.
Thousands of megawatts of electricity have been included in the national grid due to the completion of energy projects under CPEC. He said that the world has been left surprised over the speedy completion of projects in Pakistan. It is sanguine that the CPEC has been proved a game-changer in the real sense as it has opened the doors of foreign investments to Pakistan. We are thankful to the president, prime minister as well as the people of China over the mammoth investment package under the CPEC.
The CPEC is a great initiative of a friendly country which will never be forgotten by the people of Pakistan and the investments made under the project have further increased the bilateral relations between the people of both the countries. The CPEC related initiatives will change the destiny of the nation, added then chief minister.
He said that the CPEC has emerged as a project of vital utility and this venture will play an important role with regard to the elimination of terrorism and fanaticism along with poverty alleviation from the region. The economic corridor will usher the country to a new era of socio-economic development and as a result, Pakistan will become the focal point of trade and economic activities.
In fact, the CPEC project will alter the course of history, said CM Shehbaz.
He lamented that the opponents of public development tried to hinder the CPEC project, and added that the elements damaging the national interests for the sake of personal agenda are not loyal to the country.
Miftah Ismail said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken unprecedented steps for the development of the province and in fact, the development process in Punjab has emerged as a role model for others. Shehbaz with his untiring efforts has reformed the province altogether, he concluded.