LAHORE: A delegation of British investors led by London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday. During the meeting, the British investors showed their keen interest to invest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UK span over many decades and added that Pakistan gives great importance to its relations with the UK. A large number of expatriate Pakistanis are settled in London who are playing an important role in enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. It is the best opportunity to promote relations between the UK and the province of Punjab as further promotion of mutual relations in different sectors is need of the hour, he added. He said that Pakistan is a peaceful country which has rendered yeoman service to counter the menace of terrorism and it has achieved marvelous successes in the war against terrorism. He pointed out that thousands of Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in this war and the brave armed forces of Pakistan, police and law enforcement agencies have written a new history of bravery. This war is the struggle for the survival of Pakistan and therefore, the war against terrorism has to be won at every cost. The time is not far away when the Pakistani nation shall succeed in this war. The chief minister told the delegation that important reforms have been introduced in education, healthcare and skills development sectors in collaboration with Department for International Development of the UK. “We appreciate the British cooperation and Punjab province is willing to further promote this cooperation with the London so that people from both the sides could be benefitted. We shall have to move further jointly and it is the best time for it. The chief minister said that CPEC has opened new avenues of foreign investment in Pakistan and the British investors should take full benefit of the golden opportunity by investing in CPEC projects. He said that British investors will be welcomed as this has given an opportunity to the British investors to come forward. He said a culture of transparency has been promoted by the government in Punjab and stressed the need for further promoting mutual cooperation with the London in public transport, sanitation and traffic sectors. Talking on the occasion, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that cities of London and Lahore enjoy good relations and expressed the desire to enhance cooperation and investment with Lahore in different sectors. He thanked the Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his wholehearted welcome and vowed that collective work will be done to enhance investments. Different British investors, on the occasion, said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has done wonderful steps for the prosperity and congenial environment has been provided for investment. The Chief Minister hosted a luncheon in honor of Mayor of London and his delegation. British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, London Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal along with a large number of British investors and officials were present on the occasion. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mansha Ullah Butt, Nadeem Kamran, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Dr. Umer Saif, Turkish Consul General Serder Deniz, US Consul General Elizabeth Kennedy, Chief Secretary, Lord Mayor Lahore and Pakistani investors were also present on the occasion.Earlier, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan held a meeting with Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here today and talked about different matters of mutual interest including promotion of bilateral relations and expansion of cooperation in different sectors. Published in Daily Times, December 7th 2017.