Punjab, Chinese firm to cooperate in Lahore Ring Road & Pindi Expressway projects

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, September 28, 2009
By Our Correspondent

LAHORE

THE Punjab government and the China State Construction and Engineering Company (CSCEC) have decided to cooperate in the Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects and a team of Chinese company will visit the provincial metropolis on October 15 to settle details in this regard.

The company will also complete its ongoing project of the Software Park on the Ferozepur Road within a time frame.This was decided in a meeting between Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and a delegation of the CSCEC, led by its vice-president and representative in Pakistan, Ye Wenquan, at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shahbaz said Pakistan and China had strong ties and the latter had played a commendable role in the progress and development of the former. He said there was a wide scope of foreign investment and cooperation in various sectors in Punjab and China was already extending cooperation in this regard. He said the Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the rapid development and uplift of the masses while special attention was being paid to the infrastructure development.

The chief minister said that the Lahore Ring Road and the Rawalpindi Expressway project were vital to the development of the province and he had signed an agreement with the Chinese company during his visit to China. He said the implementation of the projects would not only result in better communication facilities for the masses but would also leave a positive impact on the provincial economy. He said the company should complete the ongoing project of the Software Park on the Ferozepur Road as early as possible as the project had already been delayed due to inept planning of the former rulers and the present government had to bear an additional expenditure of one billion rupees due to the delay. He said a special committee headed by the additional chief secretary had also been constituted to take immediate measures for removing hurdles in the completion of the project. He said the company should also extend cooperation for converting the Software Park into an information technology park.

CSCEC Vice-President Ye Wenquan assured the CM that his company would complete the Software Park within the stipulated period while a special team would visit Lahore in the second week of October to settle details regarding the construction of the Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects. The additional chief secretary, secretaries Finance, Information Technology, Communication and Works, commissioner Lahore Division and vice-chairman Investment Board were also present.

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