Economy can be strengthened through mineral resources: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Friday said that national economy could be strengthened through benefiting from mineral resources.

According to a handout, he was presiding over a meeting here to review pace of the project of mineral reserves in Chiniot. Experts from Germany, Britain and China were also present on the occasion. Addressing the meeting, he said the Minerals Department should work in a professional manner and play an active role. He said capacity- building of Minerals Department was the need of the hour and reforms were being introduced for its reorganization.

The Chief Minister directed that the project regarding mineral reserves in Chiniot should be implemented speedily. German expert Dr Jurgen Harteish gave a briefing regarding pace of the project. The delegation of German and British experts was led by Michael Loos. Senior officials of Metallurgical Corporation of China were also present. Provincial Ministers Ch. Sher Ali Khan, Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Secretaries of Finance, Minerals besides concerned officials attended the meeting while Chairman Planning & Development participated in the meeting through video link.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad ShAhbaz Sharif has said that the whole nation is united and deter- mined to root out terrorism and political, religious and military leadership is on one page in the war against this menace. He said that the war against terrorism will be won with the force of unity and mutual consultation and the country will be rid of terrorists forever. He said that effective measures have been taken in the province under national action plan against terrorism.

Talking to assembly members of various districts, the Chief Minister said that Pakistanis have rendered supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the efforts made by the people of the country for the elimination of terrorism will not go in vain. He said that terrorism will be eliminated from Pakistan and it will be made a haven of peace and harmony.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing extraordinary situation and it requires extraordinary measures. He said that national action plan is a consensus formula to root out terrorists and its implementation will help overcome the problem of terrorism.

He said that terrorists and their facilitators will find no place to hide and the promise of giving a safe and peaceful Pakistan to the coming generations will be fulfilled at any cost. The elected representatives who met the Chief Minister included Muhammad Afzal Khokhar, Nasir Bosal, Karam Elahi Bandiyal and Mehdi Abbas Khan. Member Provincial Assembly Mansha Ullah Butt was also present on the occasion.