Lahore, Nov. 15 (TNS): Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that German cooperation in the energy sector would be welcomed.
The chief minister was speaking to high-level delegation from Germany which called on him here on Wednesday.
The delegation was jointly led by German Ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler and MAN Diesel and Turbo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Uwe Lauber.
During the meeting, a fruitful discussion was held to promote bilateral cooperation between Punjab government and Germany in different sectors, including energy, transport, the automobile industry and skills development. The German company showed its deep interest to promote cooperation with the Punjab government. The delegation appreciated the command of Shehbaz Sharif over the German language as he talked to them in their language.
Addressing the delegation, the Punjab chief minister said that Pakistan and Germany were friendly countries, and exchange of technology was essential since Germany was renowned the world over for maintaining quality.
He said that 60 per cent of the population of Pakistan consisted of youth who could be fully empowered by providing them technical and vocational training. He proposed that speedy progress should be made in the skills development sector by working jointly, while informing the delegation that the first technical university was going to be established by the Punjab government soon.
In this regard, the German government could share its expertise with the provincial government and we would be happy if German technical assistance was provided in the field of skills development, he added. He further said that solid steps taken by the provincial government have proved fruitful for overcoming the energy crisis. The gas-based power plants have been established and the Punjab government was going to establish a new gas-based power plant of 1263-megawatts from its own resources, he added.
CM Shehbaz said that every project had been completed with quality and speed as national resources worth billions of rupees have been secured by maintaining transparency in different schemes.
The chief minister welcomed the proposal of setting up a training centre for the youth by the German company and directed to constitute a committee to give a practical shape to this proposal soon. The CEO of the German company Dr Uwe Lauber said that cooperation would be extended to the Punjab government in skills development, energy and other sectors. He said Shehbaz was a very good friend of Germany who had adopted wonderful steps for the development of the Punjab province. He appreciated the performance of Shehbaz, especially in relation to carrying out development projects.
German Ambassador Martin Kobler said that Germany would continue to work with the Punjab government for the development of different sectors.
