LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the agreement for Taunsa Power Project with the Chinese company, which built the biggest dam of the world, will prove to be a new chapter of foreign investment in Pakistan.
He said this at a briefing after a visit to Three Gorges Dam, which is the world’s largest hydel-power project in the Chinese province of Hubei.
While recording his impressions in the visitors’ book, the chief minister termed the Tree Gorges Dam a “gorgeous one” in reality and a tribute to the unshakable commitment, indefatigable efforts and indomitable spirit of the Chinese people. He described the dam as the eighth wonder of the world.
Referring to Taunsa Power Project, the chief minister said that the project would prove to be a memorable gift for the people of Punjab from the government and people of China and a glaring example of Pak-China friendship. He said that Taunsa Power Project would help reduce loadshedding, transfer of hydel-power technology to Pakistan, resumption of industrial activities and creation of job opportunities.
The chief minister said that Pakistan wanted to benefit from Chinese expertise at Taunsa Barrage and other projects. He said that he would be happy to play host to Chinese engineers and workers.
Later, leaders of Chinese Communist Party hosted a reception for the chief minister and his delegation in Ye Chang, which is the central city of Hubei province.
Speaking on the occasion, he said people of China are the custodians of the ancient wisdom of China, spanning over thousands of years, while the Communist Party had played a historic role in utilising their capabilities.
He said that he and his delegation had come with a programme of cooperation with China in agriculture, livestock, road construction, hydel-power, communication and other sectors and were happy that the leadership of the Communist Party was extending all out encouragement and patronage.
Local leader of Chinese Communist Party Li Ya Long in his address said that visit of the delegation led by Punjab Chief Minister would play an important role in cementing friendly relations between the two countries and mutual contacts would be made more effective and result-oriented in science, technology, culture and other sectors.
Meanwhile, an important agreement was signed between the Punjab government and a renowned Chinese company Sino-tech in Beijing on Thursday.
CM Shahbaz Sharif and other members of his delegation including Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Saud Majeed, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman, Zaeem Qadri, Kiran Imran, and Shamsa Gohar were also present on the occasion.
Chairman Punjab Board of Investment Rizwan Ullah Khan and the head of Sino-tech, Jin Guang Ming signed the agreement under which the Chinese company will select projects for investment in livestock, agriculture and other sectors while Punjab Investment Board will help in the purchase of land, supply of power and gas and other facilities.