LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that there is a need for accelerating the pace of industrial development through utilising all available resources as well as evolving a comprehensive strategy for meeting the economic challenges being faced by the country. He was addressing a seminar arranged by National Policy Platform for Competitiveness and Economic Growth at a local hotel, here on Monday. Economic experts participating in the seminar highlighted economic problems confronted by the country as well as their solution. The Chief Minister emphasised the need for utilising all available resources for achieving the targets of economic development. He said the gulf between rulers and the masses was increasing due to economic problems and sincere efforts should be made for redressing peoples grievances to bridge this gap. He said there was no dearth of resources in the country, however, there was a need for their utilisation in a realistic manner. He said that Pakistan was facing energy crisis and billions of rupees were being spent on purchasing power whereas low-cost energy could be obtained from hydle and coal reserves. He said Basha Dam and other projects would have to be completed expeditiously for overcoming energy crisis. The Chief Minister further said that billions of rupees were spent last year on the import of wheat but due to better planning a record production of wheat has been achieved this year. He said Punjab government was taking all possible measures for industrial development. He said an advisory committee comprising economists and intellectuals had been constituted for devising a strategy for economic progress. 'China role model for Pakistan' Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated an exhibition of Chinese marital customs at Alhamra Art Gallery, here on Monday. Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Luo Zhao Hui was also present on the occasion. Talking to media-men on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that Pak-China friendship is deep-rooted and time-tested and China has stood by Pakistan in every hour of need. He said that Chinese people have made rapid progress in a short period of time due to their hard work, honesty and commitment and achieved a prominent place in the comity of nations. He said China is a role model for Pakistan and he was deeply impressed during his visit to China with the remarkable progress made by the Chinese nation. He said promotion of cultural and economic relations and mutual cooperation in various sectors between the two countries is the need of the hour. Ambassador of China Luo Zhao Hui said that there are strong ties of friendship between China and Pakistan, which are strengthening with the passage of time. He said that a number of agreements of cooperation were signed during Shahbaz Sharifs recent visit to China, which would leave a positive impact on the friendship of both the countries. Later, the Chief Minister witnessed the exhibition and evinced keen interest. He said that the bilateral relations between China and Pakistan are growing with the passage of time. He said that there is a considerable similarity between the marital customs of the people of China and Pakistan which is reflected in the exhibition. He said that Punjab government is promoting the culture of austerity in the province and the one-dish law is being strictly implemented at marriage ceremonies. Similarly, he said, that due to energy crisis, obsolete customs are also being discouraged at marriage functions.