Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov held a meeting here on Saturday.

During the meeting, it was agreed to promote bilateral relations in different sectors, including skills development, petrochemical, technology, industry, mines, agriculture, livestock, tourism, sports and others.

The meeting also constituted a joint committee to identify different sectors for promoting cooperation between the Punjab government and the Republic of Tatarstan.

Speaking on the occasion, the visiting president said, “It is absolutely incorrect to link terrorism and fanaticism with the religion of Islam. Islam teaches peace and brotherhood.

Islamic norms are based on brotherhood, tolerance and love, and added: “We will jointly work to eliminate terrorism.”

He hoped that the chief minister would soon visit Tatarstan to explore potential of mutual cooperation in diverse fields.

The chief minister said he was heartily pleased over the visit of the Tatarstan president. “Pakistan and Russia enjoy cordial relations and we should work jointly to promote them further,” he said, adding that there was a tremendous potential available for cooperation in agriculture, livestock, skills development, mines and other sectors in Punjab.

The chief minister too threw weight behind the president’s remarks, saying: “Islam is a religion of tolerance, peace and harmony. There is no room for terrorism and extremism in Islam. Islam gives equal rights to all human beings without any colour or creed.”

He said that terrorism was an international issue, which should be dealt with coordinated efforts.

Later, the chief minister said he would visit Tatarstan in June this year.

Present among others were Sheikh Allaud Din, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Ch Sher Ali, Jehangir Khanzada, Naeem Akhtar Bhaba, Umer Saif, senior officials as well as deputy prime minister of Tatarstan, besides other members of the delegation.

Separately, the chief minister Saturday inaugurated the second phase of population census by providing details of his family members to the staff of population census at his residence in Model Town, Lahore.

The chief minister, while inaugurating the second phase of population census, said that population census would ensure a better future. The chief minister said that the citizens should fully cooperate with the staff of population census. “They should perform their national duty by providing correct details of family members,” he said, adding that provision of correct information about the family was important for future planning.

The chief minister congratulated census staff for performing the national duty in a befitting manner.