China Trip not to Seek Charity : Shahbaz Sharif
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Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrives at the Beijing Airport, along with other dignitaries. PHOTO: NNI
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Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif categorically said on Wednesday that Pakistan was seeking self-reliance and self-sufficiency and, therefore, it does not want any foreign aid.**
Speaking to The Express News from Beijing, where he is accompanying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz said PM Nawaz’s visit to China had great significance that will help promote ties between the Pakistanis and Chinese.
Shahbaz said Pakistan was no longer a country begging for foreign aid and Premier Nawaz’s visit was not to seek any charity from its ally because the government wanted to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. He said agreements about coal, hydro-electricity and bio-gas will be signed with China during the trip.
He said the country was facing a big challenge in tackling the energy crisis and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government was focusing on handling and finding a solution to the problem. “Load-shedding has ruined industries in Pakistan and the government is desperately working to bring the duration of the load-shedding down to eight hours a day.”
Pakistan, he explained, was fighting against terrorism as a front-line state and was committed to this fight.
Regarding the friendly ties enjoyed between the neighbours, Shahbaz said the friendship was “higher than the Himalayas and deeper than any ocean”.
“This friendship will be further strengthened through mutual cooperation. China is the superpower of the region. It has redefined its priorities and we also need to redefine ours.”
He said Pakistan was interested in working with China in sectors like power, education and health. On Thursday (today), the leadership of the two countries will discuss plans to construct the Kashghar-Gawadar-Karachi highway and operating the** metro train in Karachi,** Shahbaz explained.
Moreover, Shahbaz blamed that certain foreign powers wanted to destabilise Pakistan, but their conspiracies will be foiled with the people’s power. He said the people have given a mandate for change and the PML-N government will put all its efforts to bring about this change.
The Punjab chief minister added that as many as **25 agreements **will be signed between Beijing and the Punjab government. He said, “Punjab and China will promote mutual relations and we shall also strengthen mutual economic relations.”
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Published in The Express Tribune, July 4[SUP]th[/SUP], 2013.*
