LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that selfless public service needed to bring a real change instead of resorting to mere hollow slogans of 'change'.
He said that the Punjab government had set international record by completing energy projects in the shortest possible time.
He was talking a high-level delegation, led by Minister of Communist Party of China, Wang Yajun, who called on him here.
During the meeting, both sides discussed the issues pertaining to bilateral relations, progress on projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and strengthening of association between Communist Party of China and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).
Shehbaz Sharif said that every passing day is witnessing stronger ties between Pakistan and China, and CPEC had further boosted this relationship, putting the country on the road to development and prosperity.
The incumbent PML-N government, he added, ended load-shedding by completing energy projects within stipulated time period, and various development projects were being completed which have no match in the 70-year history of Pakistan.
The foundation stone of 1,263-MW of Punjab Gas Power Plant was laid on Saturday in Jhang and the project would also be completed in a record period of time.
The CM said that Chinese President Xi Jiang would always be remembered as a scholar because he had put China on the road to progress and he was connecting different countries of the world under the Belt-and-Road initiative.
The steps of Chinese president against corruption are worth appreciation, he said.
The CM said that due to CPEC project, Pakistan is making rapid progress although some of the elements are upset, but our friends are happy with it. Pakistan and China are confronting same enemies. He said Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) Lahore was also a gift of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Le Chi Chaing for Pakistani people.
He said that some political elements wasted a lot of time regarding completion of the project, but fortunately it has been put on the track again. We will compensate this wasted time with his hard work, he said adding that it is our prime duty to complete the project quickly to provide world-class travel services to the common man.
He said that he is grateful for cooperation of China's president, Axim Bank of China and NDRC, which expressed confidence in the Punjab government and continued to support the project despite hurdles.
Minister Wang Yajun, while praising the hard-work and phenomenal leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, said that Punjab had attained major development goals in his tenure which are surprising as well as quiet impressive.
Shehbaz Sharif, he added, has taken concrete and striking measures for the economic and social development of the province.
One who visits Punjab comes to know that Punjab Speed is the other name of Shehbaz Sharif and through this speed he has done extraordinary projects with such passion for development of the province which surely deserves a huge round of applause.
Due to personal interest of the CM Punjab, many Chinese companies are working in Pakistan while few of them have invested in various projects of Punjab as we highly regard his exhilarating leadership.
Wang Yajun further said that he is very pleased to see the streets of the cities beautiful and clean which obviously is due to the best management of Shehbaz Sharif.
He also praised commitment of CM who visited Project of Lahore Orange Line Metro train (OLMT) on Saturday and today, despite being a holiday, he is busy in disposing of his official duties from 8 o'clock in the morning.
The minister said that he likes the dedication and urge of CM for public service as he is neither tired of work nor takes rest also these unique qualities of his personality had made him popular public leader.
He said that China esteems its relations with Pakistan and due to CPEC both countries are cherishing perpetual friendship which is flourishing further. Shehbaz Sharif has worked hard to complete the energy projects in a short span of time, benefit of which is reaching to the common people as load shedding is over in Pakistan.
He said that CPEC is flagship program of Belt and Road project which has led to a new era of construction and development in Pakistan also China will always go along with Pakistan in this journey of progress and prosperity. Some of the countries are opposing CPEC but it will be of no use for them and in fact they are losing their opportunities of progress.
Communist Party of China specifies its relationship with the Pakistan Muslim League-N and connection between the two parties is strengthened with time, he said further comforting that steps will be taken to reinforce the relations between the two parties. Minister of Communist Party of China assured all possible cooperation regarding earliest completion of the OLMT.
He also congratulated Shehbaz Sharif for obtaining permission to continue this project and said that undeniably this is a great plan of public interest and we will try our best to complete this project as soon as possible so that the public may have access to the standard travelling facilities. He guaranteed that China will continue to cooperate in the development voyage of Pakistan.
Chinese delegation included senior officials of Communist Party of China and Chinese Consul General Long Ding bin.
Provincial Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Senior Leader PML-N Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Lord Mayor Lahore and concerned officials were also present.
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