To promote Punjab as an investment destination, the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade hosted an event in honour of the Mayor of Istanbul, Dr. Kadir Topbas. Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was the Chief Guest at the event. PBIT took this opportunity to promote Pakistani culture and organized an art exhibition comprising of art works by students of National College of Arts. The Turkish Delegation highly appreciated the exhibition. CEO PBIT, Ms. Amena Cheema presented the Mayor with two painting that PBIT purchased from NCA’s students to encourage them. The event also featured local music performed live by renowned Lahore based musicians. Along with the festivities of the event, PBIT also initiated the signing of a comprehensive agreement between the Government of Punjab and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. PBIT also signed two MoUs. One with Fuat Celik Construction Co of Turkey and the other with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Four letters of interest were submitted by two major Turkish companies, STFA and Kalyon to form joint ventures to set up waste water treatment plants and surface water treatment plants in Lahore and Faisalabad. The comprehensive agreement ensures empowerment of local bodies through trainings, facilitation, up gradations and policy revival to guarantee the provision of better services to the common public. Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Punjab whereas Mayor Istanbul Dr. Kadir Topbas on behalf of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Under the agreement, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will cooperate with Punjab government for enhancing technical expertise in local bodies, building control, urban & regional planning, provision and drainage of water, solid waste management and skill development. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will also extend technical cooperation for development of urban sectors, capacity building of solid waste management and improving performance of WASA. In solid waste management area Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will support Punjab in converting waste into energy. The Istanbul Water & Sewerage Administration will support in transforming WASAs into modern, vibrant, customer oriented and an efficient self-sustaining public sector utility. To generate the desired outcomes, it was mutually agreed that both parties will jointly or individually organize events, and exchange delegations. Parties will also provide each other customize placement of staff, networking of companies for capacity building, knowledge and facilitation services by providing specific information, identification of joint venture partners, facilitating procedural matters with the respective authorities while remaining within their respective legal mandate. In addition, Government of the Punjab will establish a Secretariat in Planning and Development Department for achieving the objectives of this Agreement. Two MoUs were signed between Punjab Investment Board and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Punjab Investment Board and Fuat Celik Construction Co. Turkey. Under the agreements made between Punjab Board of Investment and Trade, Turkish Fuat Celik Construction Co. and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, steps will be taken for the promotion of investment. Turk company will also invest in rehabilitation of sewerage system. Under the MoU signed between Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, events will be organized to promote trade & investment between Turkey and Punjab and work will be carried out jointly for enhancing investment opportunities. A delegation of Government of the Punjab visited Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality last year to study various sectors including local government structure, building control, corporate model of service delivery, housing, urban and Regional planning, water and sanitation, solid water management and skill development. As a result, Mayor of Istanbul, during his visit to Lahore announced that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will extend cooperation and support to Government of the Punjab to enhance its technical capacity in the sectors mentioned above.
