LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for the promotion of industrial and trade activities. He said an investment-friendly atmosphere had been created in the province while a vibrant and active investment board had also been constituted for facilitating industrialists and traders. Industrialists and traders are the backbone of national economy, said the chief minister while talking to office-bearer of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce at Chief Ministers Secretariat here on Friday. Member National Assembly Khawaja Mohammad Asif, senior political assistant Pervez Malik, Vice Chairman Investment Board Pir Saad Ashanuddin, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industries Hassan Ali Bhatti, Secretary and office-bearer of the chamber were also present on the occasion. The chief minister said the Punjab government was working on various projects of power generation and negotiations were also being held with a Chinese company for generation of energy from coal. The chief minister also gave approval of awarding autonomy to Sialkot Public School, initiating work on medical college project as well as various uplift schemes in Sialkot. The chief minister said that all out resources were being spent on the rapid development of the province and welfare of the masses. He said an effective strategy had been adopted for the promotion of small industries while early solution to the problems of industrialist and traders was also being ensured. He said that energy crisis had badly affected industrial, agricultural and other sectors, therefore government was working on alternate sources of power generation including generation of energy from coal and utilisation of coal gasification technology. In response to the demands of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the chief minister granted approval for awarding of complete autonomy to the board of governors of Sialkot Public School. He said that an amount of Rs100 million had been allocated this year for setting up medical college in Sialkot and work on this project would start soon. He also ordered completion of material testing laboratory within seven month besides accelerating the pace of construction of Sialkot Hockey Stadium. He assured industrialists that government would leave no stone unturned for resolving their problems. Earlier, office-bearers of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce briefed the chief minister about various development projects in the City. They paid rich tribute to the chief minister on the measures taken for the progress and prosperity of the province and welfare of the masses.