KARACHI: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has offered cooperation to Sindh government in launching a Metro-style bus service in Karachi.

Mr Sharif arrived here on Wednesday to invite Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service.

He made the offer during a meeting with Mr Shah at the Chief Minister House.

Also read: Ruling the road: PML-N govt set to win hearts with launch of Metro Bus Project

During the meeting, the two chief ministers also discussed issues of formula for the National Financial Commission award, the Karachi Circular Railway, the linking of different cities of Sindh with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the law and order situation in Karachi.

They also exchanged views on the purchase and sale of wheat, sources said.

Mr Sharif called on Dr Ibad at the Governor House and discussed with him the law and order situation in Karachi and development projects being executed in the city with the assistance of federal government.

During a meeting at the Punjab House, Mr Sharif discussed with local leaders of the PML-N the proposed reorganisation of the party and the coming local government elections in Sindh.

The president of the provincial chapter of the PML-N, Ismail Rahu, briefed him on the party affairs.

Mr Sharif conveyed to the leaders present the directives of the party’s high command regarding the local government elections, asking them to launch mass contact campaigns.

Before the elections, he said, the central leaders of the PML-N would visit Sindh and address meetings in various districts. Soon the party leadership would hold a meeting with the leaders from Sindh to discuss distribution of party tickets for the elections and prepare a strategy to jointly contest the elections with like-minded parties.

Talking to reporters before leaving for Lahore, Mr Sharif said the four provinces must join hands to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.

Terrorism could not be eliminated with the help of weapons alone, he said. The creation of job opportunities, elimination of poverty and solution of the basic problems faced by people were also required to tackle the problem.

He said China had given the country an economic package of $43 billion, including $33bn for energy projects. Of the total amount, $10bn would be spent on projects in Sindh, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2015

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