Punjab Upbeat on Major Investment from China

LAHORE, Nov 24: Punjab expects a huge Chinese investment in the province as a result of the 19 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) the provincial government has signed with various Chinese companies for joint ventures.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told a press conference here on Monday, a day after his return from China, that talks were held for setting up an industrial estate of Chinese companies in Sheikhupura.

The sectors identified for joint ventures are fertilizer production, power generation, infrastructure development, waste water management and dairy farming, he said, adding a meeting would be held on Wednesday (tomorrow) to form committees for each sector to materialize the MoUs.

Chinese engineers would also visit Punjab to see possibilities for drip irrigation system in arid areas of Cholistan, he said, adding they had been offered land on 30-year lease for agricultural projects as 20 parties had shown interest in this respect.Infrastructure projects like Lahore Expressway, Lahore Ring Road and Lahore Mass Transit system were also identified for investment while a Chinese company also expressed interest in real estate development, the chief minister said. Work on one such project would soon start.

Shahbaz Woos Chinese Companies, Investors

CHIEF Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the provincial government has prepared a comprehensive package of incentives for Chinese companies for investment in Punjab and complete protection as well as a favourable atmosphere will be made available to Chinese entrepreneurs in the province.

According to a handout, speaking at the inauguration of Investment Council of major investors of mega companies and traders in Jiangsu province on Thursday, he said that maximum facilities would be provided in this regard and due to conducive and safe atmosphere available in Punjab, they could complete their projects in a proper manner.

Identifying the projects for mutual cooperation in various sectors, the chief minister said that the government had planned a number of projects of infrastructure development including construction of an elevated expressway, Ring Road and mass transit system in the provincial metropolis for coping with the traffic problems.

Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif assured that an attractive rate of return would be offered to the Chinese companies and investors in Punjab. He said that the government was utilizing all available resources for increasing literacy rate for the provision of a skilled workforce. The Chinese companies, which participated in the Investment Council, specialize in power generation, solar energy, wind energy, road construction, garments and textile, manufacturing of CNG buses, real estate and construction.

Addressing the investors, the chief minister said that Punjab has vast iron and coal reserves, which could be used for steel production and power generation and he during his visit had invited a major Chinese construction and engineering firm to help in the excavation of these reserves. He said that Punjab has valuable land and besides industrial and trade projects, planning was also being made for development of housing schemes.

He asked the investors to extend cooperation to the Punjab government in the implementation of these projects and an investment strategy could be worked out with mutual consultation for the implementation of these projects. Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharife said that Punjab needed cooperation of Chinese investors in power generation, CNG buses, real estate and textile sectors.

He said that joint ventures with China could help promote industrial and trade relations. Two MoUs were also signed at the inauguration of the Council with leading companies of Jiangsu for different development projects in Punjab including cooperation in the construction of Rawalpindi Expressway and Ring Road in Lahore.

Shahbaz Holds Wide-Ranging Cooperation Talks in Beijing Including Lahore Mass Transit

BEIJING, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is heading a delegation on a visit to China, said here on Tuesday that his government wanted to introduce the drip irrigation technology to bring large desert areas under cultivation.

Talking to a delegation headed by the director general of the National Centre for Efficient Irrigation Engineering and Technology Research, Mr Huang Yaoxin, Mr Sharif said he planned to bring a large part of desert areas in Cholistan and Bahawalpur under cultivation by introducing drip irrigation. Mr Yaoxin informed him that the system was working successfully in his country.Mr Sharif invited a delegation of the company to Punjab to explore the possibility of implementing the project on fast track.

Mr Yaoxin informed the chief minister that the drip irrigation system was suitable for growing cotton, fruit, wheat and other crops.He said that in Xinjiang over one million hectares of land was being cultivated using this system.During a meeting with the president of the China State Construction and Engineering group, Mr Sharif sought CSCE’s help in implementing projects including Rawalpindi Expressway, housing schemes, Lahore Mass Transit System and extraction of iron ore and coal from newly discovered sites in Punjab.

Later, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation was signed with the company.Another protocol was signed with the China National Chemical Engineering Group for cooperation in fertiliser, power generation, mining, infrastructure development and waste water management.

Also on Tuesday, the China Development Bank assured Mr Sharif that it would provide financial assistance in energy and other projects.At a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister, CDB president Chenyuan expressed interest in various projects and in the development of agriculture sector.

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Wow....... I am surpried that CM is still considering this project........ Great , but how can he accomodate both Lahore Mass Transit and the Elevated Express Ways at the same time.

Lahore Mass Transit Project May Not be Implemented

From the Following News, it is clear the Mr. Sharif is bent upon making the Lahore Expressway project and ultimately this means no more Mass Transit Project. Indeed Tragic.

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LAHORE PUNJAB

Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that timely and quality completion of all developmental projects should be ensured besides expediting the pace of ongoing projects. He said the construction work of Rawalpindi Express Way with a sum of Rs. 20 billion had been started whereas express way would be constructed on the same pattern in Lahore.

Maximum entry and exit points will be constructed for the convenience of the citizens, he added. He was presiding over a high level meeting held to review the pace of implementation of various developmental projects in the province on Saturday. The meeting was also attended by Chief Engineer GHQ Lt. Gen. Shahid Niaz, Chairman Task Force Kh. Ahmad Hassan, Chairman Task Force Horticulture Mustafa Kamal, Chairman P&D, Secretary C&W, Director General LDA, DCO Lahore, MD NESPAK and Director General PHA.

Addressing the meeting, Main Shahbaz Sharif said the government had initiated mega developmental projects in the province for the improvement of infrastructure as well as providing better transport facilities to the masses. He said these projects would be completed within the stipulated time and in transparent manner.

He directed setting up maximum entry and exit points for smooth flow of traffic on Rawalpindi Express Way so that people could benefit form this project. He directed the constitution of a committee comprising representatives of FWO, Secretary C&W and Chairman P&D for removal of hurdles as well as timely completion of this project. He said the feasibility report was being prepared for construction of Express Way in Lahore which would cost Rs. 42 billion. He said he would talk to the Chinese investor for this mega project during his visit there.

The chief minister directed that WASA and other departments should complete their work before the construction of roads in Lahore, as permission of digging would not be granted to any department after the completion of roads. He said the FWO would lay down the sewerage on these roads. He directed that the construction work of the roads of walled-city should be started from next Monday.

Directing acceleration of the pace of construction work of Shalimar flyover, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz said maximum construction work of all the projects, including Shalimar Flyover, should be carried out at night as well so that these projects could be completed within the stipulated time. He directed that installation of 70 new tube-wells in Lahore should be completed within the next two months.

The meeting also reviewed the pace of implementation of various development projects including Muree Road, Adiyala Road and Dipalpur Road. The IG Police Punjab was directed during the meeting to take immediate measures for handing over the Mughalpura Police Station and adjacent police building to the concerned departments for carrying out construction work. Earlier, Chief Engineer Lt. Gen.

Shahid Niaz informed the meeting about the details of implementation on various developmental projects being completed by FOW.

Erfurt - Another German Beautiful City of Mass Transit

I visited Erfurt and saw the beautiful tram running there.... wow that is the future.