Shahbaz seeks WB help in building small dams

LAHORE
A delegation led by Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of World Bank Group Sri Mulyani Indrawati called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Monday.
Vice-President of World Bank for South Asian Region Ms Annette Dixon was also present on the occasion. Sri Mulyani Indrawati while paying tributes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he was a visionary leader and was serving the people with determination and the steps taken for promotion of good governance and public welfare were yielding positive results.
She said that World Bank would promote cooperation with Pakistan especially Punjab for skill development for the empowerment of two million youths by 2017-18. Talking to the delegation, the chief minister said various programmes were running successfully in Punjab with the cooperation of World Bank in education, health, skill development and uplift of other social sectors and government wanted to promote cooperation with World Bank in this regard. He said that targets had been fixed to prepare quality skilled manpower of two million youths in Punjab by imparting technical and vocational training to them and World Bank cooperation would be welcomed in this regard.
Referring to reforms in education sector, the chief minister said the target of 100 percent enrolment of children in schools by 2018 had been fixed in Punjab and measures were being taken for the promotion of quality education. Informing the delegation about mineral resources of Rajwa-Chiniot, he said that iron ore and copper reserves had been discovered and business model would be prepared by the end of this year. He said that World Bank could provide assistance regarding the survey for correct assessment of mineral reserves in Punjab and construction of small dams in the province. He said that work had been started under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Dasu Dam and Diamir Basha Dam and funds of billions of rupees had been allocated for these dams. The chief minister thanked the delegation for financial assistance for Dasu Dam.
trade ties: A delegation headed by Member of Central Committee of Communist Party of China and Party Secretary of Jilin province Bayinchaolu called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, here Monday. Matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations, promotion in economic and trade cooperation between Punjab and Chinese province Jilin, increasing working relationship in agriculture, industry, science and technology, auto industry and various sectors were discussed. The meeting agreed on the steps to promote bilateral cooperation in various sectors to keep close contact in future.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said a new era of economic relations between Pakistan and China had started in the tenure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Referring to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the historic economic package given by China is a gift for Pakistan. He said that under CPEC, a huge sum of $33 billion had been allocated for energy projects and projects under CPEC had been started in Punjab. He said that construction of 1,320 megawatt coal power project in Sahiwal had been started and would start production of electricity in 2017.