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LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif holds those staging sit-ins in Islamabad responsible for delay in Chinese investment worth billions of dollars.
“The $34 billion Chinese investment in various projects here was not delayed by China but due to untimely sit-ins by unwise people,” he told reporters at a ceremony on Wednesday to sign two memorandums of understandings (MoUs) between the Punjab government and Yantie, industrial city of Chinese province Shandong.
Know more: From China, with love
The MoUs are for setting up industrial parks in Punjab and declaring Lahore and Yantie, the capital of Shandong, as twin cities.
“The sit-ins caused a massive loss to the country and the posterity will not be able to compensate it,” he said, adding, “Those staging sit-ins have committed enmity with the country and the destiny of 180 people by putting the projects of development and prosperity at stake.”
He appealed to the nation not to forgive these elements as the Islamabad protest was “neither politics nor service, neither the humanity nor patriotism”.
He asked those staging sit-ins to show wisdom and not to play with the destiny of the people.
He said the postponement of Chinese leaders’ visit have started impacting the projects.
“Power generation projects have slowed down as Chinese officials are through e-mail expressing their apprehensions that due to bad political situation, their work has slowed down.”
He said he would inform the nation about this at an appropriate time so that people from Khyber to Karachi should know that how much damage the sit-ins had done to the Pakistani nation. He said efforts were afoot to recover the losses .
He also appealed to TV channels not to show the sit-ins round the clock and instead “highlight the hopes of the nation”.
The chief minister said he was pleased that despite hindrances, Chinese brethren came to Punjab and signed agreements.
Published in Dawn, September 25th , 2014
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Comments (68) Closed
Sep 25, 2014 06:20am
Obviously, nation's right to demand justice has less worth than a foreign investment.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:22am
All the power to IK and TUQ. Lage raho democracy-wadion
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Sep 25, 2014 06:26am
And we know that will go to shared family. Only DFI will change the future of Pakistan. No we need more a system without current polititions.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:38am
Very short sighted vision of the writer. This is called beggar mentality. We need to fix our core issue first as highest national priority in order to avoid corruption of future multibillion investments and growth. Otherwise 2 families will keep looting the nation just like they have done for 30 years. The core issue is to fix the gateway through which these corrupt people are occupying the state of Pakistan like a leech and sucking every blood. These are not genuine elected people.
We need to fix foundations first rather than rebuilding walls every now and then.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:40am
It is better to build on top of good foundations. $34bn of sand castle is worth sand.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:41am
I do not know about the investments but it is hurting every trader in Islamabad. It is slowly becoming a joke and they are not only holding hostage their own people but all of us in Islamabad. Most of us are hard working people and have not the luxury to sit around all day but have to endure the noise all night and the threatening people walking all over with their sticks. Qadri is ruling them with hate speeches and one never knows how they will react next day . It is sad that these egocentric so called leaders are getting away with all this.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:44am
Pakistan was always important for China for security,economical,militarily and most important for them had been kickback money for corrupt politicians on both sides.Doing business with China and Korea had been like Barfi for Pakistani corrupt politicians in the name of Cheen Bhaibhai slogans.China was never bhai,will never be bhai.They dance on tune of money.Today Pakistan,tomorrow India,and next day someone else.They would never invest or borrow anything for free when they are not sure what pakistan future is.I know China cos I know Chinese more than anyone.I spend almost half of my life there and understad their culture.Now blaming the protestors,this is very unfair.What security threat was there for Chinese President to cancel his Pakistani trip,when he visited more dangerous states in Africa who are also dangerous for Ebolas.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:52am
Yes they will invest 34billion in Pakistan, LOL why do we always have these big claims from our failed politicians which never come true...
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Sep 25, 2014 06:54am
It only takes a banquet dinner to sign a MOU. The real commitment for investments comes when a formal contract is signed. The conversion rate of converting MoUs into contracts is very low globally. Having worked in China for a long time, I know the real value of MoUs.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:54am
The real question remain the same, you are not the true representative of the nation. How can you sit there illegaly and calling those who are protesting for their constitutional right as wrong. Parliament is not a jageer (property) of your family where over dozen of your family members ruling this country.
The recent hike in prices of electricity alone broke the backbone of the common man. We fear more price hikes if deals signed worth 34$. Go nawaz Go and every family limited company from the parliament of corrupts.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:55am
We should use the opportunity of the sit in which as attracted "tens of lakhs" to register and issue everyone there a National Tax Number (NTN). THat way at least the sit in will be good for something economically not just driving away investment but adding to the tax base. (I am sure PTI wont mind the registration as it will be letting the government know how many PTI supporters are not paying their taxes in civil disobedience)
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Sep 25, 2014 06:57am
What about the delay in FIRs against those responsible for model town tragedy... Where is the justice. These Dharna's are about getting justice.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:19am
My God - Shahbaz Sharif is more concerned about his commission from $34.0 billion from China.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:21am
all the blame goes to those who wrote the script at Brussels and secondly to loohaar dynasty
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Sep 25, 2014 07:22am
I dont know what is in that four constituencies that govt. risks $34 billion but unable to investigate that four constituencies??
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Sep 25, 2014 07:32am
Any project outside Lahore and Punjab is part of Investment or its only for future Pakistan which will be Punjab , the conspiracy theory of Greater Punjab we hard in 1990 is coming to reality
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Sep 25, 2014 07:56am
Are those investments planned in front of the Parliament in the red zone? If not, then what's the fuss. You can sign a piece of paper anywhere?
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Sep 25, 2014 08:22am
Yet another lie by the PML-N.
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Sep 25, 2014 08:22am
$34 billion Chinese investment, yet another lie by PML-N.
#GoNawazGo
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Sep 25, 2014 08:53am
Money will definitely come later once we succeed in our revolution and bring about sea change in Pakistan politics , what use is the money if it comes now and is all gobbled up by corrupt politicians and does not benefit common man.
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Sep 25, 2014 08:57am
But there wasn't any protest in the first year but still all MOUs signed didn't yield much. It reminds me of 2011 PPPP Era when Newspapers were on a printing spree, reports of feasibilities studies conducted were printed all most every day but what change did that bring? Today we stand much more exposed and with government who is busy with its miss-queued priorities.
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Sep 25, 2014 08:58am
Investment for whole for Sharifs or Punjab only.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:01am
pls do not waste your energy in misleading the Nation - does the fate of this nation only lies in the investment from China?-stop fooling around the nation any further please; the initiatives taken by the government so far speaks for itself what they have done with this nation and leaves many question marks - so we request you to please step down with grace!
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Sep 25, 2014 09:03am
If Pakistan need foreign investments in the country, the present corrupt govt must leave for the sake of the country. Please packup and go and retire from the politics. You have ruined the country.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:05am
It seems Pakistan's development in 68 years is nothing compared to the development that was going to happen in these 40 days of dharna. Pmln has not given up on its ideas of short cuts. Loan at a very high rate is a joke with Pakistan and cannot be declared development.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:18am
How the sit-ins are stopping the Chinese investments? If the deal couldn't be signed in Islamabad, then they can do it in Lahore, Karachi, or anywhere else in the country. May be it is the Shahbaz Sharif himself who is delaying the signing ceremony to blame it on sit-ins.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:19am
Is the $34b going to be invested only on D-Chowk, where the sit-in is happening? IMF I believe have also stopped $6b loan due to non-implementation of certain actions by the PMLN government. Is that also blamed on the sit-ins?
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Sep 25, 2014 09:24am
“Those staging sit-ins have committed enmity with the country and the destiny of 180 people by ........................."
One hundred eighty people ---very good Mr./Ms Reporter/Editor
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Sep 25, 2014 09:24am
Police action should have been taken long ago. These people are not protesters, they are enemies of the state. They have violated every single law while sitting there. PAT members still check any car passing near them to the secretariat. Humiliation that govt officials have to face every day. IK and Qadri have nothing more to lose but people are suffering. Request to govt: please remove them ASAP.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:34am
I have to hand it to politicians. The unlimited dimensions they can come up with to view an issue to get the favour of the public on their side. Remarkable...
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Sep 25, 2014 09:34am
And these two families (PPP and PML(n)) are sitting on USD 200 billion. Shame on you Shahbaz.
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Sep 25, 2014 09:38am
A storm in the cup hampering development? Hard to believe.
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Sep 25, 2014 10:12am
After investment from China, will our govt. give assurance to the China that no sit-in will be take place in future and incase of any sit-in you may withdrawn the investment. Please focus on governance and lead example for world. So that no sit-in taken place against poor governance.
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Sep 25, 2014 10:16am
Wasn't it one trillion according to Ahsan Iqbal? What a relief!
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Sep 25, 2014 10:36am
you all will be the victims of your own self at the end of the day and as usual you will find some one else to blame for the bad economy.
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Sep 25, 2014 10:48am
two memorandums of understandings (MoUs) are between the Punjab government and Yantie and not with Federal Govt of Pakistan. So Punjab is free to proceeds. By the way rate of return is missing in the report. A Biased reporting
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Sep 25, 2014 11:07am
India rolls out the red carpet for China and we brought out couple of dharnas, one imported from Canada and one with a stubborn child asking to be PM! And people continue to argue that it is not good for Pakistan...
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Sep 25, 2014 11:07am
Does the government think we are all stupid or something.
All the progress taking in Pakistan since 1947 was supposed to happen in August-September 2014 only ??. This is completely illogical. I live in the area. The protesters are confined to only one specific block and traffic is moving as usual and all business centers in blue area are open.
Only thing is VVIPs going to the parliament have to take an alternative route and that's all.
**the next thing Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz sharif will say that the floods came in the rivers cause of the sit ins.**
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Sep 25, 2014 11:25am
Is there anything left which the chinese weren't coming here to do, Mr Shahbaz Sharif?
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Sep 25, 2014 11:49am
The article qoutes Mr. Shareef as;
“Those staging sit-ins have committed enmity with the country and the destiny of 180 people by putting the projects of development and prosperity at stake.”
Indeed the kickbacks resulting from this investment of 34. billion $ (at an interest of 7% per annum) will benefit 180 people belonging to Shareef clan and therefore the Nation must rise and further strengthen these sit-ins and hit the Shareefs where it hurts the most --> their pockets!
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Sep 25, 2014 12:02pm
Power generation projects have slowed down!!!!!!! Dharna are not stopping you from generating, say 15000MW, from the 22000MW capacity installed.
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Sep 25, 2014 12:16pm
Shahbaz Sharif should have ethically resigned after the Model town incident, yet here he is commenting on the sit ins. If he is so worried about the prosperity of the country, he should resign.
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Sep 25, 2014 12:49pm
First we need to clean up our house before we should worry about foreign investments. Because otherwise it will only add wealth to those in power and will mean little, if anything at all, for the ordinary Pakistani. It is therefore, a good thing that no foreign investment is happening to benefit these looters.
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Sep 25, 2014 01:00pm
What a blindwash. PML N knows that they can fool everyone some time and someone every time but not every one every time. Despite this the Attorney General will get a new Rs. 13 million 2400cc Mercedes as he is a favourite of Nawaz. And China is not investing because of dharnas ??? I think the Chinese are not willing to pay the commission to Sharif brothers anymore.
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Sep 25, 2014 01:14pm
Nawaz is more concerned about the loss of hefty commission rather than the loss of investment to the country. Go Nawaz Go.
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Sep 25, 2014 01:31pm
What is more important, a loan of 34 billion, or justice and fair play on national issues?
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Sep 25, 2014 01:33pm
@UFO
The sit ins are putting the Pakistan nation to RANSOM
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Sep 25, 2014 02:11pm
Chinese don't invest, they buy.
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Sep 25, 2014 02:21pm
Reading these comments one can only feel sorry for Pakistan. May Allah save us from people keen to bring about a change- such people have previously succeeded in Egypt, Thailand, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen. Will Pakistan be another name in this list?
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Sep 25, 2014 02:57pm
I have a very simple formula, if media is not supporting IK and TQ it means they are good for Pakistan
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Sep 25, 2014 04:32pm
@Raja : Good, at least government officials are finally subjected to humiliation which they have been dishing out to common people of this country for decades.
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Sep 25, 2014 04:37pm
Nandi pur failure - Sit-ins responsible ,
Load shedding - Sit-ins responsible,
Electricity overcharging - Sit-ins responsible,
14 murders in model town - Sit-ins responsible,
Flood Natural Catastrophe - Sit-ins responsible,
please include if i missed out anything else :-)
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Sep 25, 2014 05:10pm
This sit-in must be hurting the pockets of Sharif Brothers.
Well the riches of Baluchistan are not for Punjab. The resources of Baluchistan belong to Baluch people and their future generation. Therefore Punjab, hands off Baluchistan.
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Sep 25, 2014 06:11pm
So chinese came to PUNJAB!!!!!!
wonder when can we start talking about Pakistan and not PUNJAB
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Sep 25, 2014 06:46pm
SS, NS and the politicians in general, you guys need to change your attitude and start coming back to Earth. Same for the bureaucrats.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:19pm
You can not make fool of us with these false and irrational claims anymore. China is a country who has been working on various projects in Pakistan for decades come rain or shine. Chinese continued to work at the Gwadar Port even after continuing kidnapping and even killings of their engineers. Chinese continue working even after the worst terrorist attacks in every corner of the country. And now if you are saying that Chinese are not coming due to the threat from the Dharnas then there can not be any lie bigger than this. First of all no one knows whether Chinese president's visit was confirmed and secondly even if it was scheduled it was Govt.'s utmost responsibility to keep it on no matter what if it was that critical. It is a BIG failure for the Govt.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:22pm
Political rallies are part of the democratic process. If these rallies were allowed without putting up hundreds of containers and thousand of police personal, the life in twin cities and other places would have carried on as normal. In the west these types of rallies happens all the time. Even some time the government face some violence but business of the government carries on. Government off course is now trying to gain political millage of its own actions by blaming on the opposition.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:30pm
Why only few are allowed to play with the future of 180 m pakistani neither it is democracy nor any seeking justice. If millions votes have been robbed and IK is representative of them why only 200 day timer are sleeping in dharna. They need to be removed forcibly asap.
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Sep 25, 2014 07:46pm
China Shandong province capital is Jianan city
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Sep 25, 2014 07:47pm
China Shandong Province capital is JINAN CITY
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Sep 25, 2014 09:51pm
@zak ...What revolution are you talking about?
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Sep 25, 2014 10:30pm
I am a Pakistani and I live in Shandong and I have to correct the author that the capital of Shandong is not Yintai but its "Jinan"...So just because the investments are coming from that city doesn't automatically make it a capital.For the benefit of readers the actual city is very small and can never be deemed the capital of the province.I thought Newspapers did their research before publishing articles but I guess thats not the case.
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Sep 26, 2014 01:26am
it is funny that in the end he says that Chinese brethren came to Lahore and signed the agreements. The core issue of Model Town Massacre will not go away by such statements. The Chinese leaders did not come because they did not want to be seen siding with a government which is illegitimate and unpopular.
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Sep 26, 2014 01:50am
In other words, Sharif family is missing out on making money because Chinese folks cannot come to Lahore to sign contracts and Sharifs don't get their cut.
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Sep 26, 2014 03:34am
Poor Sharif unable to get the 34 billion dollars just bcoz of the sit ins.
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Sep 26, 2014 05:09am
This is all a pack of lies, Chinese do not make these investments, how much of this is loan and how much of these are based on sovereign guarantees at exorbitant pay back to make Shariffs and their cronies grow their wealth exponentially.
Where is the true analysis of the financial package?
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Sep 26, 2014 04:16pm
The Sit in has nothing to do with foreign investment as is being claimed. The dampener for FDI is the security situation in the country and the inability of Law and order machinery to bring criminals and terrorists to justice. Red herrings will always want to deflect attention from real issues with arguments of convenience. Peace is paramount if economic progress is the goal but there will be heavy resistance because terrorists, Drug mafia, illicit Arms dealers and other criminals can only thrive when there is chaos.
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Sep 26, 2014 06:59pm
First thing first. Justice and equality for the nation first and investments later. Shahbaz Sharif should stop running his mouth. He is only interested in his cut from the investments. Shame on you Sharif.
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