LAHORE, Oct 25: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of a garments city near Kala Shah Kaku.

The project will be spread over an area of 1,000 acres where the Pak-China industrial zone will also be established.

The chief minister made the announcement while presiding over a meeting at Model Town here on Friday, says a handout .

Adviser to Chief Minister Dr Ijaz Nabi gave a briefing on the proposed project.

The chief minister said that all facilities would be available to industrialists under one roof in the garments city while a labour colony, a hospital and other facilities would also be provided on a priority basis.

He said the garments city project was of vital importance and would be implemented expeditiously, adding that no laxity or negligence would be tolerated in the execution of the project.

He said that Chinese investors associated with textile, readymade garments and knitting had shown interest in investment in the Punjab-China industrial zone.

Issuing instructions to concerned authorities to prepare a practicable financial model of the garments city, the chief minister also directed them to conduct a complete survey for the assessment of energy requirements of the garments city and also formulate recommendations in this regard.

The chief minister directed to formulate a committee for preparing a comprehensive technical training programme so that skilled manpower could be produced to meet the industrial requirements of the garments city.

He said the textile sector would make considerable progress after the grant of the GSP Plus status to Pakistan in the European Union, national exports would increase substantially, new job opportunities would be created which would in turn strengthen national economy.

DELEGATION: A delegation led by Han Zhiqiao, the president of a Chinese company Dongfang Electric International (DEC), which is working on Nandipur power project, met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday.

Matters regarding completion of the Nandipur power project before the timeline were discussed in the meeting.

The chief minister said the Nandipur power project was of vital importance and should be completed before the stipulated period with the cooperation of the Chinese company to help resolve energy crisis.

He said the PML-N government had revived the project and transported its machinery from Karachi after which work was being carried out expeditiously.

Han Zhiqiao said the project was a joint venture and would be completed in accordance with the vision and desire of the chief minister.

Provincial Minister for Energy Sher Ali Khan, Secretary Energy and Managing Director of Nandipur Power Project Capt Mehmood (retired), Vice-President of DECL International Zhang Guorong and Project Manager Chen Youping were also present.

JAPNESE ENVOY: Japanese Ambassador in Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday.

Matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations and cooperation in different sectors were discussed in the meeting.

The chief minister said that Pakistan and Japan had friendly relations and Japan was a role model for the developing countries.

The Japanese ambassador said that measures would be taken for cooperation in technical education and other sectors.