PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif will visit Turkey, Britain and Germany by the end of this month.

According to a handout issued on Saturday, during his visit, the chief minister would hold discussions with the leadership of these countries regarding cooperation and investment in various sectors of Punjab.

Elected representatives and officials concerned will also be included in the delegation of the chief minister.

A meeting was held here Saturday to review the arrangements for the foreign tour of the chief minister. Assembly members Col (Retd) Shuja Khanzada, Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, secretaries of home, schools education and energy departments, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade vice chairman, Solid Waste Management MD, representatives of Turk companies and others were present.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said basic purpose of his visit to Turkey, Britain and Germany was to benefit from the experiences of the developed countries. The chief minister said that all non-official members of the delegation would pay the expenses of the visit from their own pocket in accordance with the policy of Punjab government. He said that during the visit to Turkey, bilateral negotiations would be held with the Turkish president, prime minister, Istambul Mayor Kadir Topbas and other Turkish leaders for increasing further cooperation in various sectors.

Appreciating the role of Turkish leaders and Mayor Kadir Topbas in progress and prosperity of Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that bilateral relations between Punjab and Turkey had further strengthened due to their cooperation and personal interest while Turkish companies were extending vigorous cooperation with Punjab government in solid waste management and transport sectors. He said the aim of initiating Metro Bus Project was to provide international quality travelling facilities to the people of Punjab while new agreement to purchase more latest buses from Turkey for Metro Project would also be signed during the visit.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said energy crisis had hampered national progress in Pakistan, and negotiations would also be held with Turkish companies for increasing cooperation in energy sector in Punjab. He said Turkish companies had expressed their interest in increasing cooperation in the information technology in Punjab while a Turkish company would also extend cooperation for setting up of a theme park in the provincial metropolis.

The chief minister said that during the visit to Britain, British investors would be apprised of the conducive atmosphere for investment in Punjab. He said British companies could benefit from the facilities provided by Punjab government and avail opportunities of investment in the province. He said expatriate Pakistanis based in Britain displayed special interest in ensuring prosperity in the country.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the way Germany had achieved rapid progress in industrial sector after Second World War was a shining example for the developing countries like Pakistan.

He said Punjab wanted to benefit from the revolutionary progress made by Germany in industrial sector, for which bilateral negotiations would be held with German companies during his visit to Berlin for enhancing cooperation in energy and other sectors.

The meeting reviewed arrangements made for the visit of the chief minister.

Meeting: MPA Rab Nawaz Lak and Ulema Board Punjab Chairman Pir Syed Ameen ul Hassnat called on Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.

Political situation of the country, matters of mutual interest and Ulema Board were discussed during the meeting.

Rab Nawaz Lak apprised the chief minister of the development works and problems of the people of his constituency.

The chief minister said that resolution of people’s problems was top priority of the Punjab government of PML-N and speedy completion of development projects was being ensured throughout the province.

film: Shahbaz Sharif has said that crores of Muslims world over have been dejected by the attitude of the international community over the issue of sacrilegious film. In a statement issued here on Saturday, Mian Shahbaz Sharif said no law or code of conduct of the world allowed injuring the sentiments of respectable personalities of crores of people in the name of freedom of expression, nor did it allow disgracing beliefs of other communities. The chief minister said that by expressing their strong emotions against this blasphemous film, the Muslims of the world especially Pakistanis had proved beyond doubt their love and affection of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

Shahbaz Sharif said that he honestly felt that the federal government had not played its effective role on the issue, which was expected by crores of Muslims. He said the ministry of foreign affairs should summon a meeting of ambassadors of Islamic countries in Islamabad over this serious issue and chalk out a unified course of action to condemn such events.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that vandalism and hooliganism displayed by some nefarious elements included in Friday’s processions were highly condemnable.