LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has that India and Pakistan will have to resolve their issues through purposeful dialogues to maintain durable peace in the region.
Talking to chief executive officers of national and international companies here on Saturday, the chief minister said that both the countries had fought wars that had only resulted in poverty and unemployment. “We will have to move forward and set up glorious examples for the future generation,” he said adding that both the countries should move forward on economic and trade fronts and take steps for the benefit of the people.
“If we want to alter the course of history then we will have to move further in the right direction,” he said.
Separately, the chief minister has said that the multi-billion China-Pakistan Corridor (CPEC) will not only benefit Pakistan but also the whole region.
Talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers here on Saturday, the chief minister said that China was making a historic investment of $52 billion under the CPEC project in Pakistan. “The world is astonished at the speedy completion of the CPEC-related projects in the country, he said, adding that the CPEC had opened new vistas of foreign investment in Pakistan, which would give unusual benefits to the country.
“We are thankful to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and the Chinese people for historic investment package under the CPEC.”
He said that the corridor was a gigantic project of prosperity and development of Pakistan which had become a reality. “Speedy completion of CPEC-related projects is our top priority and these projects will change the destiny of the nation.”
Once completed, the project would help alleviate poverty, terrorism and fanaticism. “The people of all four provinces and other territories, including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), would benefit from the CPEC projects.”
He said no one would be allowed to hatch conspiracies against the project. “Enemies of the CPEC are enemies of Pakistan,” he said, adding that different projects, including energy, infrastructure, Gwadar Port and industrial cooperation, are included in the CPEC and speedy work was being carried out on them.
Solar, coal and hydropower plants are also being set up under the CPEC, which will help overcome energy crisis in Pakistan, he added.
Meanwhile, the chief minister has congratulated the National Blind Cricket Team over its success against England in semi-final of T20 Blind Cricket World Cup.
The chief minister said that players of Blind Cricket Team achieved success by exhibiting best play, and added that performance of players had been good in every match.
He said that players have had demonstrated their talent with full passion and hard work, and hoped that the tem would achieve success in T20 Blind Cricket World Cup by defeating archrival India in final.
