‘Pakistan to benefit from Qatar in energy sector’

LAHORE:The Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan, Ali Bin Mubarak Al Khatar called on Punjab Governor, Sardar Saleem Haider, at Governor’s House on Tuesday.

They discussed cooperation between the two countries in trade and other fields . Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Governor, Sardar Saleem Haider said that Pakistan and Qatar have brotherly relations. He said that cooperation with Qatar would be further increased in various fields. Pakistan wants to benefit from Qatar's expertise in oil and gas sectors, governor said. He appreciated Qatar for showing Islamic teachings and values to the whole world during the hosting of the Football World Cup. He said that Pakistan is a peaceful country and its people are loving and hospitable. The Pakistani workforce is playing the role of a strong bridge between the two countries. He said that Pakistan is grateful to the government of Qatar for hosting the expatriates. Later, governor visited the house of PPP leader Hasan Ashraf Bhatti where he condoled with him on the death of his father Ashraf Bhatti. He also offered Fateha for the late Ashraf Bhatti. Saleem Haider while talking to media representatives said that he has come to condole with the family of Ashraf Bhatti. He said paid tributes to the late Ashraf Bhatti's services for the party. He said that the country would not progress until there is uniform accountability and system of punishment and reward is in place.

Kazakhstan envoy meets minister

Honorary Consul General of Kazakhstan Rao Khalid M Khan on Tuesday met with Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain at the committee room of the Punjab Investment Board in which mutual cooperation and promotion of trade and various proposals for increasing bilateral trade cooperation were discussed.

The meeting agreed upon to increase cooperation in technical education, agriculture, tourism, information technology and other fields between Kazakhstan and Punjab. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that there is a great scope for increasing cooperation in trade and economy and there is a need to find new ways to increase the volume of trade between the two countries. Mutual trade can be promoted by increasing people-to-people contacts. He said that investors from Kazakhstan should take advantage of investment opportunities in special economic zones of Punjab.

The provincial minister said that the government's focus is on the promotion of solar energy. Investment companies of Kazakhstan will provide all possible facilities to invest in the solar energy sector. The city is being built in Lahore. Information Technology University will be built on 10 acres in Gujrat, Chaudhry Shafay said. Consul General of Kazakhstan Rao Khalid M Khan said that there is a need to implement the 40 MoUs between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

A special forum has to be formed to increase bilateral trade cooperation in various fields. The Honorary Consul General of Kazakhstan appreciated the services of former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the development of Pakistan.