LAHORE: The chief minister has offered free-of-cost land to big Chinese investors if they invest in Punjab.

Shahbaz Sharif made the offer while addressing Punjab-Qingdao Business Seminar on Thursday during his ongoing visit to China, says a communique.

He also assured the Chinese industrialists of provision of the best facilities for the programme of shifting industries along with technology to Pakistan.

A large number of Chinese industrialists, investors, businessmen and senior officials of government attended the seminar.

Planning and Development Chairman Jehanzeb Khan and industries Secretary Khalid Sherdil gave briefings to the participants of the seminar on the facilities being provided by provincial government to investors and industrialists.

The chief minister also met Communist Party of China, Qingdao, Secretary Li Qun. During the meeting, agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between Punjab and Qingdao.

A joint working group will also be set up to explore possibilities of promotion of cooperation between Punjab and Qingdao in different sectors. MoU were also signed between Punjab Investment Board, industries department and Qingdao.

Investors from both Punjab and Qingdao also signed agreements and MoU under which cooperation would be enhanced for setting up of economic zones, besides in textile sector, transport, industrial estates, infrastructure, e-commerce, technical and vocational training and other sectors.

As many as 20 agreements and 25 MoU were signed during the visit of Punjab chief minister to China.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016