Multan Metro Bus launch in August, says Shahbaz Sharif

[Salman]

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday foundation stone for Multan Metro Bus would be laid in August.

He told a press conference Rawalpindi Metro Bus would be completed in December this year.

The chief minister said August would be an important month for investment in the country. “A delegation of Chinese investors will visit Pakistan in August to finalise projects related to Pakistan-China Economic Corridor,” said Sharif who has recently returned to Pakistan following a three-day visit to China. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal was also present.

The chief minister said his visit to China was part of the development process that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had started last year by signing a memorandum of understanding on Pakistan-China Economic Corridor.

He said officials from the two countries would finalise details of projects related to energy and infrastructure development in August. The development of Gwadar Port would also be taken up, he said.

Sharif said he had discussed financial and technical issues of several projects with the China National Development Reforms Commission. He said work on Lahore-Karachi Motorway would be started soon.

The chief minister criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for announcing a Tsunami March on August 14.

He said instead of resorting to agitation, Khan should contribute to the country’s development.

“Imran Khan should work for the welfare of the country. While Imran Khan will be leading a protest rally, I will be inaugurating Multan Metro Bus,” he said.

Sharif said the people of Pakistan would fail the PTI’s long march. “Imran Khan does not want country to prosper.”

The chief minister said those who lived in western countries had come to Pakistan with their so-called agenda of brining a revolution.

Highlighting the importance of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, Iqbal said China wanted to develop its western areas and it needed a corridor for the logistic support needed for the purpose. He said some elements did not favour Chinese investment in Pakistan.

He said if Pakistan failed to provide the corridor, China might move to Iran or Afghanistan to find an alternative route.

He said that the PTI’s proposed protest would discourage foreign investors from investing in Pakistan. He said that Imran Khan’s allegations of rigging in last year’s general elections were baseless.

He said that instead of protesting, the PTI chief should work for the welfare of the people displaced as a result of an ongoing military offensive in North Waziristan.

The minister said that the government would not allow anyone to derail the democratic process.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 201