News
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Denmark for more cooperation in various Pakistani sectors
LAHORE: Danish Minister for International Development and Cooperation Christian Friis Bach called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday. Matters of mutual interest and cooperation in education, energy and other sectors were discussed in the meeting. Ambassador of Denmark in Pakistan Jasper Moller Sorensen, Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Minister for Energy Sher Ali Khan, Minister for Industries, Muhammad Shafique, Secretary Women Development Department and other officials concerned were also present on the occasion.
Talking to the Danish Minister, the chief minister expressed desire for promotion of cooperation with Denmark in education, energy and other sectors. He said there was a vast scope of launching energy projects from hydle, biomass and coal in Punjab. He said Denmark should consider launching of joint ventures in the sector of hydle power generation. He said Pakistan did not want aid but partnership and trade with international community. He said that Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis and shortage of electricity has affected all sector. He said a solar park was being set up in Punjab which will produce 1000 megawatt electricity. He said the present government decided to hold dialogue with Taliban in the larger national interest and took all political parties in confidence.
He said drone attacks had undermined the efforts for peace and were against the sovereignty and survival of Pakistan. He said education was an effective weapon against terrorism. Shahbaz said revolutionary reforms had been introduced in education sector in Punjab and the ratio of enrolment had considerably increased in schools due to government efforts. He said more than 50,000 poor but talented students were continuing their academic pursuits through education endowment fund. He said that skills development programme was continuing successfully with the cooperation of UK Department for International Development. The chief minister welcomed the cooperation of Denmark in granting GSP Plus status to Pakistan in European Union.
The Minister for international development of Denmark said his country wanted to promote cooperation with Pakistan in education, energy, trade and other sectors. He said that it was a matter of satisfaction that there was a stable democratic system in Pakistan. pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk