Lahore: CM, Chinese firm ink agreement on Ring Road

[Naveed Yaseen]

PUNJAB Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Monday discusses matters regarding Lahore Ring Road, Rawalpindi Expressway with a delegation of China State Construction and Engineering Company.

The delegation was led by its Wang Li, the vice-president of the company’s Overseas Department. The delegation called on the CM at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Talking to the delegation, the CM said that Pakistan and China were bound together in strong ties of friendship. He said that China had played a commendable role in development and progress of Pakistan and had stood by Pakistan in every hour of need like a true friend. He said that Punjab was rich in natural resources and there was a wide scope of foreign investment and cooperation in different sectors. He said that China was already extending cooperation in different sectors in Punjab.

He said the government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the rapid development of the province and prosperity of masses and special attention was being paid on infrastructure development. He said that Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects were of vital importance for the progress of the province and keeping in view this fact he had signed an agreement with the Chinese company regarding these projects. He said details were being finalized for practical implementation of this agreement. He said that completion of Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects would result in provision of better transportation facilities to masses and it will leave a positive impact on the development process of the province.

He said that China State Construction Company and Punjab government can form a joint investment company for the implementation of these projects. He said that China State Company should complete the IT Center at Ferozpur Road within timeframe as this project was already delayed and the Punjab government was bearing additional expenditure of Rs one billion on this project.

He expressed the desire for cooperation with the Chinese company in various projects in future as well. He said that a clear roadmap should be devised for Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway and it should also be kept in view that Pakistan is a poor country having limited resources. He said that both these projects should be of the best quality with minimum of cost. Wang Li said that he had come to Lahore for cooperation in Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects and to finalize details in this regard. He said that IT Centre will be completed by April while company would extend assistance in different projects as well.

The meeting also discussed matters regarding financial resources for both the projects. PPSC chief calls on CM: Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Lt Gen ® Sabahat Hussain called on Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Monday.

Talking to the PPSC chairman, the chief minister expressed hope that the efficiency of the commission would further improve under his chairmanship. He said the commission should evolve an effective system for accelerating the process of recruitment.

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