Mohsin, Shafay and others get friendship awards
Fida Hussnain Lahore
The Friendship Awards Ceremony 2024, hosted by the Chinese Consulate Lahore, took place at a local hotel in provincial capital on Monday.
Chinese Consul General Mr. Zhao Shiren presented Friendship Awards to Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, former caretaker Provincial Minister Aamir Mir, and others.
“Pakistan and China’s decades-long relations will be elevated to new heights. China has always stood by Pakistan in every challenging time,” said Punjab Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain.
He said, “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will prove to be a game-changer,”. Chinese Consul General Mr. Zhao Shiren remarked, “CPEC is a shining example of friendship and trade cooperation between the two nations,”. Secretary for Industries and Commerce Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Secretary for Transport Ahmed Javed Qazi, Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar, industrialists, columnists and senior journalists took part in the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain emphasized elevating the decades-long Pakistan-China relations to new heights.
He highlighted China’s unwavering support for Pakistan during challenging times, noting that their friendship grows stronger by the day. Chaudhry Shafay Hussain shared details of Punjab’s initiatives, such as the establishment of a solar-powered Garment City at Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura. He mentioned China’s investments in Punjab’s solar, textile, agriculture, and lithium battery manufacturing sectors.
A solar panel manufacturing plant agreement had already been signed with China’s Aiko Solar Energy Company. Additionally, a major Chinese mobile phone company planned to set up a manufacturing plant in Faisalabad. He also spoke about his recent visit to China, during which he held meetings with the officials from electric vehicle groups and other companies, many of which expressed interest in investing in Punjab.
He highlighted the special incentives offered to investors in Punjab’s Special Economic Zones and stated that the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had been successfully completed, and the project was now entering its second phase, which would prove to be a game-changer.
