ADB delegation calls on Punjab chief minister

LAHORE: A five-member delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB), headed by country director for Pakistan Ms Xiaohong Yang, called on Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here on Thursday.

On the occasion, progress on different projects started in collaboration with the ADB was reviewed. The meeting agreed to further extend mutual cooperation in different sectors including public-private partnership based projects.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said a number of development projects were being completed in collaboration with the ADB in different sectors including irrigation and energy.

He said that ADB was providing $500 million funding for irrigation and energy projects. "The ADB should provide development funds worth $1.5 billion every year for health, education and other sectors. Financial support of ADB for development schemes aiming at public welfare during the next five years in Punjab will be appreciated by the government," he added.

He said that Greater Thal Canal and Greater Cholistan Canal projects would also be completed with the ADB funding and added that water reserves would be developed in the outback of Cholistan to save canal and flood water.

The vast areas of Cholistan would be made green and cultivable through Water Resource Management Project. The Cholistan would be developed as a green basket not only for Punjab but for the whole of the country as well and contacts with Gulf States would be further improved by providing different facilities in Cholistan including airport. He said that ADB's support for water treatment plant in Faisalabad was praiseworthy.

Meanwhile, he said that the best doctors from around the world would be invited to work in Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases (MIKD). He said that helicopter service was also being introduced for transportation of specialist doctors in remote areas.

Country Director Ms Xiaohong Yang said the reputation of Punjab Speed had spread the world-over and due to the completion of Punjab Safe City project, Lahore had become a fully secured city for investment and tourism. She said, development vision of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was commendable and exemplary and development projects had catalyzed positive change in the province.

In fact, financial collaboration with a rapidly developing Punjab was an honor for the ADB and leadership abilities of Shehbaz Sharif for composite development in Punjab cannot be forgotten, the official added.

Head of PKUK Donath Walton, Urban Unit's Shaukat Shafi, Energy Unit's Asad Ali and Head of Financial Sector Shuzab Ali were included in the delegation while Chairman P&D Jehanzeb Khan, MD Punjab Mass Transit Authority Sibtain Fazal-e-Haleem and others were also present on the occasion.