Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif rode on the bus from his residence to the secretariat after the inaugural ceremony in Model Town, which he attended along with Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan and FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones.
Foton was supposed to start services at the end of June with a fleet of 111 buses, but was delayed after the federal government imposed a new sales tax on imports. LTC officials said that another 55 Foton buses would hit the roads before the end of the year.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said that transport was critical for the country’s development. Apart from the Foton Bus Company, he said that the government had signed an agreement with a local company for the provision of 200 quality buses. He said that the Punjab government had decided to bring 700 new buses to the cities of Punjab.
He said that a Chinese company’s investment in the transport sector in the province despite the problem of terrorism showed how much China trusted the Punjab government.
Hassaan said that commuters would “feel the difference” in terms of comfort when they ride the new Foton buses. He later told The Express Tribune that they were negotiating with the federal government for a gas deal so that the buses could run on the weekly CNG holidays.
He said that there was no need to clamp down on alternative means of transport like unlicensed rickshaws and vans on the FBC’s routes, as people would immediately stop using them. “We strongly believe that citizens want to travel in affordable and quality buses. These other forms of transport became popular because they were cheap and the buses were always overcrowded and in poor condition,” he said.
FBC vice president Zong Chris Jones said at the inauguration ceremony that the company was planning to expand its operations in Lahore. He said that the Punjab government had facilitated the company in all matters and this would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Foton will run buses on route B-9, which starts at the City Railway Station and ends at Kahna via Lakshmi Chowk, Hall Road, Ganga Ram Hospital, Mozang, Ichhra, the Canal, Kalma Chowk, Model Town and Chungi Amar Sadhu; on B-20-B, which starts at Green Town and goes to Bagrian Chowk, Akbar Chowk, New Campus, Yateem Khana Chowk, Chauburji, Data Darbar, Azadi Chowk and end at Niazi Chowk; and route B-33-B, which starts at Hamdard Chowk and goes to Barkat Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Jinnah Hospital, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Wahdat Road, Muslim Town, Shadman, Lawrence Road, Egerton Road and the City Railway Station.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2011.
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@sameer: yes the buses were brought back just few days back because there was report on Express news about CNG buses in khi being vanished..
@aqsa come to karachi i will ride uo on HiNO buses,
Great Work Sir!!! Foreign Investment under such situation is just appreciated... It shows how much confidence they have showed on Punjab Govt...
God bless you Sir!!!
@Insaaf: Mustafa kamal brought those buses in Khi about 28 months ago, but not so many people know that this is the same company that mustafa kamal got his planing and ideas from but ditched on last minute and bought Hino's junk that can not be found on any road because all the buses broke down in just few months.. and for your information president wants to bring these same buses from same company in lahore so technically lahore is not cheating khi shehbaz sharif is doing what mustafa kamal should have done instead of waste money and time of his own and others..
This great leader Shehbaz Sharif always on his toes to solve the problem of people. Every second day he has something to deliver tot he people of Pakistan. I wish SS gets the government in the federation as well for full term of five years. Long live Shehbaz Sharif
warranty on buses is 6-months minus the days when cng is not available in lahore
It is OK If Chinese company operates bus services, but we should think twice if the buses are made in China. My mp3 player and ipod which made in China worked for 3 months and I could not find a repair shop in Pakistan. I have taken an oath that I should never purchase any product that is 'made in China'.
@MIA:
Imran Khan is not in power yet and neither he will be the only one to address the Public transportaion or power supply challenges in the country. There will be a team of technocrats and experienced people who will address these issues. I am sure they will both be capable and competent enough to come up with more innovative solutions to Pakistans massive challenges than the present federal and Punjab Government.
Regarding the cng buses, apparently it is a good step to introduce a fleet of new CNG buses to Lahore as they are environment friendly and more comfortable. Now I am not an expert so I won´t comment on their dealing with mass transportation issues but apparently there seems to be no serious plan of a intercity rail service for Lahore which will cater Lahores large and hastily growing population.
Awami CM...Awam service... thanks CM!
LOVEEE!!! so happy for Pakistan at least we wont have people flying around sitting on top dont know if that happens in LHR but boy is it bad like that in Khi.. that being said who cares what part of the country its running???! its all still Pakistan right? Lets bring on the trains now!!! Kudos Lahore the bus looks decent.
@Aamer Khawaja: I beg to differ .. Yes some roads might be narrow (2 lanes) here in London but then we don't have rakshaws, tangas or encroachments blocking the roads either ... and all roads are having separate bus lanes, only used by London Red Buses and Taxis during peak hours (some 24/7), and majority of roads are four 3-4 lanes. I have spent time in Lahore too and its roads are perfectly fine. Although, these kind of buses are more needed in KP & Balochistan or other cities as I there were already some good buses when I was in Lahore some ten years ago.
@Insaaf: i live in karachi and i cant find any bus of such type in karachi.so dnt give wrong statements.punjab is lucky to have CM like shahbaz sharif.
@Insaaf: Maybe you have never been to London then, where streets are much narrower, just like your narrow mind. Secondly the buses Mustafa Kamal started here is Karachi are still lying idle at the Karachi Port awaiting clearance. Last, metro trains are a multi-billion rupees project. It requires a lot of time to develop & make it operational. Don't forget the metro service in Karachi have been suspended for decades now.
Stop fighting buddies! First figure out that from where we will get the CNG to run these buses :D
@Surgeet Sigh:
Hopefully that will going to be start in sometime 2012 Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System! So i am sure i will finished in appox 5 or 6 years duration and the company is same who build Express Highway Motorway in Punjab under NS Rule.
Good things?? Really? Do you guys think CNG is a good idea? IT IS NOT. Gas for transport is the k least effective use of the vital asset. it should be used for industries and power generation instead for more productive use - but sadly here in our country - populist things and rhetoric wins in the end
@anup: no. buyers will not get commission.
@MIA: i agree with ur views. So far Mr. Khan has not come up with solution about problems. here is no doubt that he is a extremely good person, but country needs good manager to run it.
can't pakistani gov tell chinese to manufacture Foton-beiqi buses in pak ? It will create job in the country . Pak gov should think about their economy first .
You need Metro Train for within city & intercity like Delhi metro in India. & stop the car leases schemes to minimize the traffic on roads. Cancel the fitness license for the non-fit vehicles.
dont take me wrong if i try to be cynical..But allowing too much of chinese goods dumped into a country, will tilt trade in their favour..The mistake american corporates made some 20 years ago, to move all the jobs to china for cheap labour, today american president is crying for their inability to bring those jobs back, and for america being dumped with cheap chinese goods with no real quality..
has anyone seeen what obama said during APEC summit about china " Behave like a grown up economy" ..this was in related to artifical keeping yuan low..
I mean china doesnt care about anything other than their self interest. If pakistan realize this earlier, and start encouraging domestic producer, its good for your, your childrens future..otherwise, you will be another satellite country to china..
Americans can take headon with chinese, with their military and political might..you certainly cant afford it..Its upto you !
@Tribune You guys shouldn't be so against regarding Punjab Government as if they have done something good for us and you are like errrrrrr "Chinese company" but for me the fact is that PG has just purchased those buses from "Chinese company"
@hina: Its in the blood of subcontinent people to scorn every good things if implemented by a government of their disliking.
@Insaaf:
Get You head right Dude !!
Although I am a APML supporter but Shahbaz Shareef should be congratulated for his efforts. Pakistan Zindabad
Either it's Karachi or Lahore or Peshawar or Quetta ..... All the big cities need buses for public transport and mass transits for benefit of masses .... Thank God finally this LTc bring in some buses and thing is to see how long they remain on the road ..... As remembering past, all buses works two to three years and than gone.... See the buses of new khan, premier, and another bus company who bring in chineese buses and is now now have the worst fleeet
@Insaaf:
. The dilemma that the whole nation of Pakistan facing is that ignorant like you are politicizing every issue regardless of the well intended intentions of any public servant. Much has been spent in the recent months on upgrading of the roads in Lahore to accommodate these buses. You should understand the routes where these buses are running. Regarding your comment on the train service - has the federal government got enough power generation to supply electricity for these trains? What is the policy of PTI on future power generation? Or, has it got a one point policy to get in the assemblies at any cost? It is easy way out to point out the problems but hey takes a hell lot more to be productive and provide solutions. Certainly, Mr Khan lacks the ability to be productive
MIA Canberra
@ Insaaf atleast we can appreciate the gud things happening in our country,dont we?
Don't blindly copy Mustafa Kamal, he did it some 4 years back in Karachi. These buses are fit for Karachi's broad roads not for Lahore's narrow main roads. You should pay heed on local train service to serve masses, thats why we support Imran Khan over you.