Shahbaz Sharif for promoting investment, industry

[Salman]

LAHORE, June22 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday the Punjab government was taking solid steps for the promotion of investment and industrial process in the province. Talking to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of various companies here at Chief Minister’s office, he said that national economy could be strengthened by promoting public-private partership, adding that Punjab government and representatives of different companies should formulate recommendations for comprehensive policies.

The Chief Minister said that speedy steps would be taken for the promotion of investment, economic and industrial activities in the light of useful proposals of CEOs.
He said the Punjab government had created a conducive atmosphere for investment in the province and all facilities were being provided to the investors under one roof. He stressed upon the investors to invest in energy and other sectors and the Punjab government would remove all hurdles.
He said that investors-friendly and result-oriented policies would have to be evolved for making Pakistan and Punjab the hub of economic activities.
Shahbaz Sharif said that industrial process would have to be accelerated at every cost for eliminating poverty and unemployment.He said that national economy could be strengthened by promoting exports.
The Chief Minister constituted a committee comprising CEOs of different companies and representatives of government departments which will formulate recommendations for the elimination of energy crisis, promotion of economic and trade activities and accelerating industrial process within two weeks.
The Chief Minister said that such a comprehensive and solid economic policy would be evolved in the light of the recommendations of the committee as would promote investment in the province.
Shahbaz Sharif assured the delegation that the federal government would be talked about the resolution of problems pointed out by CEOs of various companies and he will play his personal role in this regard.
Referring to the exports, the Chief Minister said that effective transportation system was needed for speedy transportation of the items.
He said “It will be our failure if we can not send fresh fruits, flowers and other items to Gulf States”. He added that there was a great potential for the trade of fresh fruits and flowers in Gulf States, therefore, Pakistani investors should pay due attention to this sector.
The Chief Minister expressed the hope that Pakistani investors could get a major share in Gulf market. He said that through the promotion of agro-based industry, not only huge foreign exchange could be earned but new job opportunities could also be created. He said that a conducive atmosphere was utmost essential throughout the country for the investment and the existing flaws in the system would be removed so that maximum opportunities of investment could be provided.
During the meeting, CEOs lauded the steps taken by the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for the promotion of investment and industrial process. They also assured to extend all possible cooperation to the Punjab government with regard to public-private partnership.
Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of various companies including Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed, Minister for Industries Ch Shafique Ahmad, Special Assistants, Advisors, Members Assembly and secretaries of different departments were present in the meeting.
Proposals for promotion of investment, economic stability, elimination of energy crisis and acceleration of industrial process were discussed in the meeting.