LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed for achieving the target of enrolment of Punjab’s each child till 2018.
Presiding over a four-hour long meeting here yesterday, the chief minister said that achievement of the targets fixed for promotion of education is the collective responsibility. “Effective measures will have to be taken for increasing the enrolment of children in schools and promotion of quality education,” he added while reviewing progress under Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap.
Stating that realising the Parho Punjab Barho Punjab programme is national responsibility, Shehbaz Sharif said he wants results for the improvement of educational sector.
He further directed that a comprehensive programme should be evolved for the training of teachers, warning that the officers failing in achieving the targets would not stay on their posts.
Speaking on the occasion, British educationist Sir Michael Barber appreciated the efforts of CM Shehbaz and his team for the development of education sector.
DFID Head Joanna Reid said that time given by the chief minister for the uplift of education sector was a proof of his commitment.
Lahore & Chengdu - Twin Cities: Meanwhile the executive vice-mayor of Sichuan’s capital Chengdu, Zhu Zhihong, called on CM Shehbaz and shared views on promoting bilateral relations of Punjab and Lahore with Sichuan and Chengdu, strengthening of trade and economic ties besides cooperation in water supply, sanitation, tourism and other sectors.
It was also decided to further promote collaboration under the framework to declare Lahore and Chengdu as twin cities. “Pakistan and China are bound together in strong friendly ties, and these agreements are of historic importance with regard to Pak-China friendship,” the CM said while speaking on the occasion.
Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the announcement by Chinese city Chengdu of setting up a working station in Lahore. He said that it would help in promotion of relations between Lahore and Chengdu in different sectors and the station will work as a bridge. “Punjab government will extend all out facilities to Chengdu for the establishment of working station,” he assured the Chinese.
Mr Zhihong expressed desire to take immediate measures for promoting cooperation with Punjab province in trade, education, health, tourism, water management and other key sectors. He said that Chengdu airlines wanted to start direct flights to Lahore. “Punjab is making rapid progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and all out cooperation will be extended to provincial government in the process of development,” he added.
He also invited the CM to visit Chengdu, saying Shehbaz Sharif is known as a man of action in China.
Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, provincial ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, President Bank of Punjab, Pakistani Consul General in Chengdu and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.
Italian investors meet Shehbaz
Investors from Italy have expressed strong desire to invest money in various sectors in Punjab in addition to extending help to the government in different areas of social development.
A delegation of Italian investors, led by Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo, met Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif yesterday. They shared views on mutual cooperation in the field of agriculture, industry, light engineering, agri machinery, agro industry and other sectors.
The Italian delegation appreciated the steps taken by Shehbaz Sharif for providing investment friendly atmosphere and creating attractions for the foreign investors in Punjab.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that situation in Pakistan has substantially improved and economic indicators are better due to which the confidence of investors has been restored. He added that the government was paying attention through speedy implementation of energy projects and thousands of megawatt electricity would be added to national grid by the end of next year.
He also stressed the need of further promoting the ties between Pakistan and Italy, adding that maximum exchange of delegations between the two countries is necessary for this purpose.
The Italian ambassador said that situation in Pakistan has considerably improved and now foreign investors feel confident about putting money in development projects in this country. He added that Italy wants to cooperate with Pakistan especially with Punjab in different sectors.