Govt committed to industrial development to make Pakistan an economically progressive country: PM Shehbaz
NOWSHERA/ISLAMABAD, June 15 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed determination of timely completion of all the projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Addressing a meeting in Rashakai Special Economic Zone in Rashakai on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the government is committed to industrial development to make Pakistan an economically progressive country.
Shehbaz Sharif said a total of nine special economic zones were launched during 2016-17 in the Joint Commission Committee in Beijing. He added that Pakistan is taking advantage of modern Chinese technology.
He said the affordable and skilled Pakistani labour and modern Chinese technology jointly will help make the economic development grow at a vigorous pace.
The Prime Minister suggested holding road shows and other activities in China to promote Chinese investment that could result in a win-win situation. He assured to resolve all the issues faced by the Chinese companies working in Special Economic Zones.
Shehbaz Sharif directed to achieve targets in the SEZ on stipulated times. The Prime Minister also stressed on making the Special Economic Zones a role model.
It is worth mentioning here that Rashakai SEZ is a flagship project under the industrial cooperation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.
The 1,000 acres SEZ is developed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) in a joint venture with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC).
PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan can send our delegates from Rashakai to China and can have road shows there to attract Chinese investors to these places. “We would like to engage Chinese companies to provide expertise and experience to manage other new economic zones in Pakistan,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the PM said both countries were moving toward the second phase of CPEC, which comprised regional cooperation and industrialisation through establishing industrial zones.
In an interview with Chinese media, PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s skilled and semi-skilled labour was comparatively cheaper and the joint venture of Chinese technology and Pakistan’s labour and investment would help the two countries make production at competitive rates and export their products to other countries.
He said the first phase of CPEC featured road and energy projects to meet Pakistan’s power needs which transformed friendly relations into unique ones where people-to-people contacts had seen a new phase.
He said Pakistan and China enjoyed time-tested friendship which had attained more heights under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. He said in form of CPEC, Pakistan had been the first beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
To a question, the prime minister said the CPEC projects had faced some hiccups during last three to four years; however, the incumbent government was resolved to take it to “Pakistan Speed” to fill the gap.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says the joint venture of Chinese industry and technology with Pakistan’s labour and investment will create a win-win situation for both countries by boosting their production and exports.
To another question, Shehbaz Sharif said the enemies cannot digest the close China-Pakistan ties but reiterated his government’s resolve to ensure security of the Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of delay in publication of books by Punjab Textbook Board. In a statement on Wednesday, the Prime Minister directed Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain to take immediate action on the matter and submit a report. He directed to immediately resolve the problem faced by parents and students due to delay in publishing of books.
Shehbaz Sharif said strict action being taken against those found responsible for this negligence so that such problem does not arise in future.