LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said world efforts are needed to end terrorism as no country alone can meet this challenge.
“Collective efforts of international community are needed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism,” the chief minister said while talking to Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy Jonathan Pratt who met him here yesterday.
Matters of mutual interest, bilateral ties and promotion of cooperation in different sectors were discussed in the meeting.
The CM said that there are multi-dimensional relations between America and Pakistan that will further strengthen in future. “Present leadership is determined to transform Pakistan into a welfare state in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and effective measures are being taken for this purpose,” he added.
CM Shehbaz further said that terrorism is an international issue and no country or nation resolve it singlehandedly. He informed the American that setting up of a society based on restraint, tolerance and moderation is the mission of the government.
American Consul General Yuriy Fedkiw and Economic Counselor Robert Garverick were also present on the occasion.
Minerals Department's
performance reviewed
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday presided over a meeting to review performance of the Minerals Department, besides measures for exploration of natural resources and reorganization of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.
The meeting decided to constitute an autonomous authority for ensuring transparency in the process of leasing of mines, said an official handout.
Addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said Punjab was rich in natural resources and the Minerals Department was being reorganized on modern lines to benefit from the same.
He directed that process of restructuring of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation should be completed at the earliest and a comprehensive survey of mining areas of the province be conducted for accelerating industrial activities.
He said those areas should be identified in the survey as have an investment-friendly environment. He said the best companies of the world should be contacted for conducting the survey. He said emergent steps should be taken for the capacity-building of the Punjab Minerals Development Corporation.
The chief minister ordered an inquiry into expansion of factories against rules in mining areas in the past and directed to set up a high-powered committee for this purpose.
The Secretary Mines briefed the meeting in detail regarding performance of the department, exploration of natural resources and other matters.
Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ch Sher Ali, Ch Muhammad Shafiq, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, secretary environment and officials concerned attended the meeting.
