Daily Times

Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi met with a 15-member delegation comprising eminen industrialists and famous business personalities of Great Britain in which matters pertaining to investment in agriculture, livestock, poultry and other sectors came under review and it was agreed by the British industrialists to enhance cooperation for investment in Punjab.

The British industrialists expressed their keen interest in CPD, RUDA and other projects. The British delegation paid tributes to the vision and endeavours of the Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and expressed their profound thanks to him for hosting them a splendid hospitality.CM while meeting with the British industrialists and business personalities delegation apprised that we need to believe in ourselves adding that we will attain the destinations of progress by utilising all our resources and capabilities. CM disclosed that we will arrange road shows for the promotion of RUDA, CPD and for the promotion of other foreign investment in Great Britain adding that we will fully guarantee to safeguard the foreign investment.

He revealed that we are launching a ''One Stop Shop Service'' for the foreign investors adding that investment opportunities are available in various energy projects including the Off Grid Hydel Power Project.CM intimated that 10 Special Economic Zones are being set up in Punjab and a 10 years tax holiday will be granted. He stated that the Ravi City and Lahore will prove to be an example of the latest twin cities adding that 3000 industries have expressed their interest in RUDA. The investors of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are also taking keen interest in the RUDA project.

CM stated that residential and commercial districts will be established in RUDA adding that 9 waste treatment management plants and 07 small and big barrages will be established in the RUDA project. The Chahar Bagh residential block will be an example of its own. The CM stated the Lahore Central Business District Authority have received the offer of 700 million dollars investment adding that the longest skyscraper of Pakistan will be built in the Lahore Central Business district.

He stated that government offices will be established in the vertical buildings of CPD. The famous British investor Zubair Wali Esa while talking on the occasion said that we have received profound love in Punjab the moment we came to Punjab. Lord Wajid Khan acknowledged that CM Pervaiz Elahi holds a highly appreciable vision for the progress of Punjab. Other investors stated that the Pakistani projects can be presented across the globe by bringing improvements in the branding and marketing techniques.

Secretary Industries along with the Heads of RUDA and CPD gave a detailed briefing on various projects and business opportunities. The delegation meeting with the CM was headed by Zubair Wali Esa, Lord Wajid, Altaf Khan and included Haroon Abdullah Patel, Hassan Ahmad Munshi, Ilyas Ismail Rehmani, Siraj Ahmad Patel, Muhammad Sadiq, Ayub Patel, Muhammad Tayyib, Muhammad Asim, Rafique Buksh, Doctor Yaqoob, Musa Patel, Shakoor Ahmad, Anwaar Ghani, and Jaffar Iqbal. Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, GM Sikandar, Rasikh Elahi, Secretary Industries, Chairman PBIT,CEO PBIT, CEO RUDA and concerned officials were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi took a big step to prevent traffic accidents and constituted a Provincial Task Force For Road Safety. The Task Force will prepare a comprehensive plan of action for the prevention of traffic accidents and prompt steps will be taken to prevent the traffic accidents along with ensuring safety of the people in the light of recommendations to be put forth by the Task Force. A necessary legislation will also be done in this regard and the Provincial Minister Raja Basharat will be the Head of the Task Force. Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary(Home), traffic officials and other officers will be members of the Task Force.

The CM accorded an approval to introduce electric mini carts in place of motorcycle rickshaws.CM presided over a meeting in which it was principally decided to promote environment friendly electric bikes to reduce pollution in the province. CM maintained that electric bikes and electric cars will be encouraged in the province adding that motorcycle rickshaws will be changed into golf cart vehicles in a phased manner.

He revealed that a readable token sticker will be pasted on the vehicles after conducting their inspection and in case of the absence of readable inspection token the vehicle will immediately be put off-road. CM directed to pay special attention to the repair of roads and of government vehicles in order to reduce traffic accidents adding that the traffic police should adopt a zero tolerance policy on the matter of out of order vehicles headlights and indicators.

CM asserted that a strict legal action should be taken against the underage drivers. The DG Rescue 1122 Service Dr. Rizwan Naseer apprised while giving a briefing that 10 persons die and many get injured in the traffic accidents on daily basis adding that after every 2 minutes a traffic accident takes place somewhere in Punjab.CM chaired a high level meeting in which steps being taken for the road safety came under review. Chief Secretary Abdullah Sumbal, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar, ACS(Home), Secretary Transport, senior officials of Traffic Police and the concerned officers attended the meeting. Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of a veteran politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Balakh Sher Mazari.

CM expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolence with the heirs of the late Balakh Sher Mazari.CM in his condolence message prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.