Maryam briefs Chinese investors on opportunities in Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has held a meeting with a delegation of prominent Chinese investors who expressed keen interest in making investments in Punjab.

She expressed her pleasure at seeing women investors among the members of the Chinese delegation. The meeting, held before the chief minister departed for Brazil on Thursday, carried great significance. On the occasion, she said that Punjab possesses immense investment potential and added that, for the first time, a ‘Zero Time to Start Policy’ has been introduced in the province to provide complete facilitation to investors.

The chief minister highlighted that Punjab is currently passing through one of its best phases in terms of investment opportunities. She underscored that the province’s industrial zones and industrial parks offer excellent potential for investment, revealing that investors will be provided with tax holidays and import duty relief.

She said that the infrastructure, IT and medical tourism sectors present lucrative opportunities for foreign investors.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif pointed out that the real estate and infrastructure sectors in Punjab can yield swift and profitable returns, adding that the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) project would serve as a role model for infrastructure development in the province.

The chief minister emphasized that business processes in Punjab have been fully digitised, adding that no physical files or papers are now required to launch a business. Investors, she said, can apply and start operations instantly through the online system.

During the meeting, senior officials from various Chinese companies introduced themselves to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and expressed their strong interest in investing in multiple sectors in Punjab.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also met parliamentarians and ticket-holders from Mianwali and Wazirabad for a detailed discussion on public issues, local needs and various development projects.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that protecting the lives and properties of the people is a fundamental responsibility of the state and vowed that chaos would not be allowed to spread.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has departed for Belém, Brazil, to attend the COP-30 conference. During the conference, she will brief participants on Punjab’s flagship initiatives, including the ‘Suthra Punjab’ and E-Mobility programmes.

During her visit, the chief minister will hold important meetings with prominent global leaders and key international figures. Her schedule includes meetings with the Vice Presidents of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).