LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pak-China friendship has entered into a new era.
Talking to Punjab Assembly members who called on him on Thursday, the chief minister said that the Chinese government was extending full cooperation with Pakistan’s ongoing development process, by giving the biggest development package of the history to the country. The CM thanked to the Chinese leadership, government and people for their commendable role in the development of various sectors of the country.
Shahbaz said that Pak-China relations would further strengthen due to the agreement between Punjab government and Chinese leadership during his recent visit regarding training of Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff in the Chinese hospitals.
Shahbaz said that he dialogued with Chinese officials and investors during the visit, adding that it was agreed to further enhance cooperation in energy, infrastructure, transport, health and other sectors. The chief minister said that Chinese investment companies showed willingness to invest in various sectors in Pakistan particularly in Punjab which would help resolve problems like poverty and unemployment. Informing that Pakistani delegation was accorded a warm welcome in China,
Shahbaz said that entire Pakistani nation was ready to receive Chinese President during his visit in September. He hoped that the visit of Chinese President would further strengthen relations between the countries. “Pakistan is a lucky country of the region which has a reliable and sincere friend like China,” Shahbaz stated. He said that the Chinese government and the people wanted to see Pakistan a prosperous and developed country, adding, “That is why, Chinese companies are making huge investment in Pakistan.”
“China fully realises the problems being faced by Pakistan and is extending all possible cooperation for steering it out of quagmire of problems,” he said. He said that projects of thousands of megawatts had been started with the cooperation of China, adding that Pakistanis would soon get rid of loadshedding.
He said that as per agreement, Chinese government would provide latest medical training to Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff on its own expenses. He said that training in emergency and acupuncture would be imparted to doctors and paramedics of Punjab in the best Chinese hospitals. He said that his government was spending billions of rupees on the provision of modern and quality health facilities to the people. “Improvement of health sector and provision of modern healthcare facilities to the common man is the priority of Punjab government,” Shahbaz declared.
He said that the agreement signed with China was an important step towards further improvement in medical facilities for the masses in Punjab. He said that the government was making serious efforts to steer the country out of problems and put it on the road to progress and development. He said that the nation would achieve its goal through adopting the golden principle of honesty, hard work and sacrifice and Pakistan would be transformed in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.