Punjab wants to benefit from Sri Lanka’s expertise, assures all facilities for investors

Lahore: Punjab wants to benefit from the experience and expertise of Sri Lanka in public health, education, skill development and other sectors, Chief Minister of Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said when a visiting high level Sri Lankan delegation met him in Lahore recently.

During the meeting, the Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister for Public Administration and Management Ranjith Madduma Bandara discussed matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in agriculture, education, health, tourism, skill development and public administration, the Pakistan Observer reported.

The Sri Lankan delegation expressed a keen interest in investment in small hydroelectricity projects in Punjab.

The Chief Minister, emphasising that there were strong friendly relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, recalled that Punjab faced the worst dengue epidemic in 2010 and Sri Lankan doctors extended their full support to the Punjab government and the people of the province will never forget this favour of Sri Lanka.

The Chief Minister further said that exchange of delegations in the sectors of bilateral cooperation is necessary for promoting relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He said that Sri Lankan investors should benefit from the vast investment opportunities in the province and assured that all out facilities would be provided to them.

Shehbaz Sharif said that mutual contacts between the industrialists of Sri Lanka and Punjab should be increased. He said that there should be maximum exchange of delegations of chambers of commerce and industry of Sri Lanka and Punjab for strengthening economic and trade relations.

He added that speedy measures for improving relations between the two countries were the need of the hour.

Members of the Sri Lankan delegation, while speaking at the occasion, expressed a willingness to invest in small hydroelectricity projects in Punjab and said that measures would be taken with the collaboration of the Punjab Government for the promotion of bilateral cooperation.