London mayor impressed by Shahbaz Sharif’s ‘vision’

L­ONDON: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he was very impressed with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the development he has brought in Punjab.

In an exclusive interview here, the London mayor shared his thoughts about his recent visit to Pakistan during which he visited Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. This was Sadiq Khan’s first visit to Pakistan after becoming the London Mayor in May 2016 when he defeated Zac Goldsmith by a huge margin to become the first ever Muslim and Pakistani to lead any western capital.

Sadiq Khan said Shahbaz Sharif impressed him. “I had a very good meeting with Shahbaz Sharif. I was very impressed with his vision and his hospitality,” said Sadiq, adding he is looking forward to Pakistan prospering. Sadiq Khan, the British Pakistani son of a bus drive rose to fame under the Labour government of prime minister Gordon Brown when he was appointed minister of state for communities in 2008 and later became the minister of state for transport.

Sadiq Khan said the progress and infrastructure developmen in Punjab under Shahbaz Sharif’s leadership,is “very impressive”. The London Mayor said: “I was really impressed with Lahore. The progress that has taken place in Punjab is really very impressive: lots of infrastructure projects, motorways, underpasses, progress of infrastructure with relation to the broadband.”

The London mayor said he meets a lot of talented and ambitious young people. “Lots of very young people who are very ambitious and what a successful city and country need is ambition and I was very impressed with the ambition of Lahore, Punjab and Pakistan. I am looking forward to a relationship between London and Pakistan going from strength to strength.”

Sadiq Khan visited three Indian cities prior to coming to Pakistan in the first week of December last year with his delegation via Wagah border to visit three Pakistani cities. In both countries, the London mayor emphasised that London is open to business -- the message that has relentlessly promoted after the Brexit referendum. “The key message for me was that London is open; London is open to talent, to people, to creative and to Pakistanis too,” he said. The London Mayor shared that his visit to Pakistan was “very successful”. He added: “We have formed friendships. The response (in Pakistan) was fantastic; the hospitality, the generosity.”

Sadiq Khan took a delegation of around 100 companies with him to both countries. He said his business delegation was impressed with the progress that has been made in the last few years “because the security has improved, because there is more stability and there is more confidence”.

He continued: “When I went to Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, I saw for myself the progress that has been made over the last few years. It’s important to make sure that there is security and stability and secondly there are more good links between London and Pakistan: business links, cultural links an educational links. It’s very important.”

The London mayor hoped the upcoming general elections in Pakistan will be free and fair. “There will be elections taking place in Pakistan soon. I was an international observer to the last elections in Pakistan (in 2013). It’s very important that these elections are free and fair and I wish best of luck to all the candidates.”