Mutual trade can improve Pak-India relations: Shahbaz

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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that harmonious relations and peace between Pakistan and India depend on the principles of mutual coexistence. He said that the wars between the two countries left only destruction and poverty and now only peace and friendship can improve relations and put both the countries on the road to progress and prosperity. The CM said that Pakistan and India will have to sit together to resolve bilateral issues for which meaningful and result-oriented dialogue is of foremost importance. He said promotion of mutual trade and exchange of delegations can help improve Pak-India relations. Shahbaz Sharif said that the process of peace with India during the era of former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was heading smoothly but a dictator derailed the process.

“In my opinion both the countries will have to come forward to resolve issues for the welfare of the people and improving their socio-economic conditions”, Shahbaz Sharif said while talking to senior editors, anchor persons and journalists of print and electronic media of Germany during a meeting in Berlin, Thursday.

Talking to German media, Shahbaz Sharif said on Afghanistan that it was our neighbouring country and we wanted to live in peace with Afghanistan as it was a guarantee of peace in Pakistan and the region also. He said that only the people of Afghanistan have the right to decide the future of Afghanistan.

While referring to the initiatives taken by the Punjab government to bring reforms in education, health, infrastructure, transport and other sectors of development, the CM said that a comprehensive programme is being followed to achieve the targets set for the said sectors and so far the outcome is very satisfactory.

The Chief Minister informed that the literacy rate in Punjab has increased while Daanish School Project has been started for the children of poor families. He said that Educational Endowment Fund has been set up with a sum of Rs 10 billion through which more than 35,000 students are continuing their studies. He said that work on metro bus project costing Rs.28 billion is going on for providing quality, comfortable and international standard transport facilities to the people and hoped that after Lahore this project will also be launched in other big cities of Punjab. The Chief Minister told that Punjab government is paying special attention to the uplift of backward areas and has diverted the resources of Punjab government to improving the living standard of less privileged people and their welfare. He said that due to timely steps of Punjab government, dengue disease has been controlled to a large extent during current year, however, we are still taking vigorous steps against dengue.

The Chief Minister also referred to the progress, reforms and initiatives taken in other sectors. Shahbaz Sharif said that Germany has expertise in solar energy technology and Punjab government wants to benefit from this expertise for overcoming energy crisis. The Chief Minister said that he will also meet the heads of solar energy companies and experts during his visit. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also replied to the questions of German journalists.

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