LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government is fully aware of all challenges coming in the way of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as some elements did not want competition of this mega project.
Talking to a visiting delegation of Chinese journalists, he said that the CPEC would be completed by overcoming every hurdle. He said that this mega project would prove to be a source of peace, prosperity, development and brotherhood. Pakistan and China had common goals and no efforts would be spared for achieving this joint goal, he said.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government had sent first batch of girl and boy students to China for learning Chinese language. Soon a second batch of the students would also visit China for this purpose, he said. “Pakistan and China are bound in everlasting relations of friendship,” he said.
“China has made rapid progress due to great Chinese leadership,” he said, adding that the Chinese leadership had implemented its vision and made the country developed and prosperous that was why China had become a second economic force of the world. The Chinese leadership and people had achieved a commendable place in the world through untiring hard work, struggle and uniqueness, he said.
The chief minister said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had set a new direction by giving a vision of one ballot one road and this was the vision of development, prosperity, peace, accommodation, tolerance and brotherhood. Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Shehbaz said that the multi-billion project was a great gift by Chinese leadership and exemplary partnership had been made between Pakistan and China through the CPEC.
He said that the CPEC would not only change the course of history of Pakistan but the entire region and generations of Pakistan and China would not only benefit from the CPEC but a huge population of the region would get benefit. He said that China had given investment package of 46 billion dollars to Pakistan in difficult hour.
He said that the work was continuing rapidly on energy projects under the CPEC throughout Pakistan including Punjab and these projects would be completed before the stipulated period. Referring to the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, the chief minister said that the metro train was a splinted gift by China as the great friend had made the whole investment for this project.
He said that China had also released second installment of funds for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project. He thanked Chinese leadership and the Exim Bank of China on providing funds for the project despite some problems. Chinese Consul General Yu Born said that the chief minister was very sincere and old friend of China and he had played a remarkable role in strengthening Pak-China friendship.
He said that the chief minister was forwarding the CPEC project with personal interest. The Chinese journalists congratulated the chief minister on recovery of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Punjab government spokesman Zaeem Qadri, Overseas Pakistanis Commission Vice Chairman Khalid Shaheen Butt, TV anchors, columnists, journalists and officials were also present.
