CM Seeks Exporters' Support To Raise Exports

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CM seeks exporters' support to raise exports

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -7th Sept,2016) : Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said economic condition of Pakistan was far better than 2013 and economic indicators were also encouraging.

He said foreign exchange reserves had reached record level of 23 billion Dollars in the history of the country. He said although Pakistan was facing extremism, energy crisis and other serious challenges, however, hard work of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his team was yielding fruits and the country had been put on the road to progress.

"No doubt, it is a big achievement of Pakistan Muslim League-N government," he added. Shehbaz Sharif said, "Pakistan is all of us and we have to make it developed jointly. We have to move forward for achieving a commendable place for the country in the comity of the nations." He said Pakistan would achieve its goal only through hard work and honesty.

He said, "Lot of time has been wasted and we have to move forward by learning a lesson from our past mistakes and negligence." The Chief Minister said unluckily, those staging sit-ins and indulging in the politics of anarchy wasted precious eight months of the nation and hampered the journey of progress.

"No cruelty and enmity to Pakistan can be greater than it," he mentioned. He said elements staging sit-ins had again appeared in different shapes but people did not support sit-in politics earlier nor would do so in future as they had become aware of their designs.

"People know that those staging sit-ins are opposing development and their sit-in and protest politics is very harmful for the masses therefore, people are disassociated with elements indulging in sit-ins and protest politics," he added.

Shehbaz Sharif said new job opportunities could be created through strengthening of economy and increasing exports. He said, "We should pledge to make the country developed by increasing exports through hard work." He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony of Export Trophy Award 2016 under the aegis of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry at Chief Minister's Office.

The Chief Minister distributed trophies among exporters on best exports of their products. Addressing the ceremony Shehbaz Sharif said today's function was splendid and held in the honour of those great Pakistanis who were playing an important role in strengthening national economy by increasing exports.

He congratulated the exporters coping with difficult challenges. He appreciated the active role of Pakistan's premier Chamber, Lahore Chamber Of Commerce & Industry in increasing exports of the country and congratulated it on its achievements.

He praised great exporters who increased their exports in difficult circumstances. He recalled that Chinese president had to visit Pakistan in September 2014 to sign development projects but these projects were delayed due to sit-in politics.

He said when Chinese President came to Pakistan in April next year, then projects of historic investment of 46 billion dollars were signed. He said it was first time in the country's history that these projects were immediately implemented and round the clock work was being carried out speedily on these projects.

Shehbaz Sharif said opponents of development of the masses started propaganda that loans had been taken from China with heavy mark up. These elements did not think that due to energy crisis there was darkness in the country and industries were shifting from here resulting in loss to the country, he added.

The Punjab Chief Minister said under CPEC, work was being done on development projects throughout the country speedily. He said 1320 megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Plant was going to complete in a record period of 23 months and there was no example of completion of coal power plant of such capacity in the world.

He said decision was made for setting up of 3600 megawatt gas based projects in Punjab on his proposal in a meeting presided over by the Prime Minister last year. "Out of these, 1200 megawatt project is being set up by Punjab government through its own resources," he added.

The Chief Minister said those companies of China and America were working on these projects as had set up Guddu Power Plant six years ago. At that time, this project was set up at a cost of nine lakh dollars per megawatt while 3600 megawatt projects were being established in Punjab for 4.5 lakh dollars per megawatt and Rs.

112 billion had been saved in these projects, he added. He said no one raised finger on transparency of these projects as no person pursued the court regarding these projects although people went to the courts regarding energy projects during rental power period.

Shehbaz Sharif said China supported Pakistan in difficult circumstances and gave unprecedented package of investment of 46 billion dollars. He said 46 billion dollars was a huge amount but there was no example of starting work immediately on even the agreements of 46 lakh dollars in the history of the country.

The Chief Minister vowed to work collectively for changing the course of the history of the country which would result in happiness for the nation. Now, at a time, when the country was moving on the road to progress and prosperity, it would be cruelty to the nation by creating hurdles through sit-in, which the nation would never forgive.

Shehbaz Sharif said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N government had resolved the problem of shortage of gas and now gas supply was being provided to the industries continuously.

He expressed the hope that energy crisis would be resolved and there would be abundant electricity by 2018. Addressing the exporters, the Chief Minister said they were great Pakistanis who had provided job opportunities to thousands of people and added that they had to change the situation of the country.

Referring to Orange Line Metro Train, Shehbaz Sharif said this was splendid project of provision of best and quality transport facilities to the masses. He said those people went to the court against this project who did not even see Shalamar Garden.

He said lawyers of PTI and people of Save Lahore Movement levelled allegations of corruption in the project in the High Court. He said the court issued stay order with regard to historical heritage in its decision however, did not write even a single word regarding corruption in its decision of three hundred pages.

He said if corruption of even a single penny was proved in the project, then people could held him accountable. The Chief Minister said, "We have great respect for the decision of High Court regarding Orange Line Metro Train Project, however, Punjab government will file an appeal against the decision in Supreme Court." He said Orange Line Metro Train was the project of common man and this splendid project of public welfare would change transport culture and benefit common man.

Senior Vice President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in his address of welcome said the Lahore Chamber had started this process for encouraging the exporters. He said exporters were brave and hard work people who were providing job opportunities to thousands of people and their encouragement was every necessary.

Chairman Punjab Investment board Muzaffar Khawaja while speaking on the occasion said that increasing exports of Pakistan, creating new job opportunities and promotion of investment was a mission of Punjab Board of Investment and all out steps were being taken in this regard.

Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha while addressing the ceremony said that economic stability was impossible without increasing exports. She said that economy would be strengthened with increasing exports which would result in creation of job opportunities and benefitting common man.

She said the Punjab government and Finance Department would provide all out facilities to the exporters. Secretary Industry, office-bearers of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a large number of industrialists, traders and exporters participated in the ceremony.