PM Shehbaz lauds Chinese companies working in Pakistan & China for their donations to the Flood Relief Fund


ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says China helped Pakistan in every difficult time and this is a good example of long-standing relationship between the two countries.

PM Shehbaz Sharif was talking to a delegation of Chinese disaster management experts led by Emergency Commanding Officer, Xu Xianbiao which called on him in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said Pakistan is grateful to the Chinese leadership and the people of China for helping in this difficult time.

He informed the delegation that various areas of Sindh and Balochistan are still under water, in which water-borne diseases are creating new challenges.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the Chinese companies working in Pakistan and China for their donations to the Flood Relief Fund.

The delegation will provide technical assistance to Pakistan on short, medium and long-term projects in the construction of infrastructure to predict floods and reduce its effects between Pakistan and China.

The Chinese delegation has formed a working group to cooperate with the relevant Pakistani institutions and authorities and will submit a detailed plan and report to the NDMA on Friday for the rehabilitation of people and infrastructure in the affected areas.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects within the stipulated timeframe as a national priority and directed to expedite work on these projects.

He said this while chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday to review progress on CPEC and other Chinese projects.

The Prime Minister said Main Line-One is a flagship project of CPEC and a game changer for Pakistan. He said ML-1 will ensure rail connectivity with Central Asian States and lead to development and prosperity of the entire region. He said ML-1 will play a cardinal role in the economic development of the country by connecting Pakistani seaports with China and Central Asian States.

The Prime Minister said ML-1 project will also ensure economic revival and development of Pakistan Railways.

Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the investment from Chinese companies in Pakistan’s solar power projects. He said the government is completing the CPEC projects on priority basis, which were stalled during last four years of the previous government.

The Prime Minister said CPEC is entering Business to Business phase from Government to Government stage. He said now an era of industrial development is going to begin in Pakistan under CPEC.

Shehbaz Sharif said Karachi Circular Railways project will reduce traffic issues of the citizens and provide them safe travel facilities.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing about infrastructure projects, especially, ML-1, Karachi Circular Railways, Karakoram Highway, and other initiatives. A comprehensive strategy was presented in the meeting on current position of the CPEC projects and pace of work on them.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who attended the meeting via video link, thanked the Prime Minister for including Karachi Circular Railways to CPEC projects.

The meeting was attended by former prime minister and Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique, Federal Minister for Board of Investment (Including Chinese & other FDI) Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister for National Food Security and Research Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema and other high officials.