Metro train project to be completed speedily, says CM

Two sub-committees formed to oversee Orange Line Metro Train

LAHORE:

The Orange Line Metro Train Project is of vital importance. Work will be carried out speedily for its early completion, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday.

He presided over a meeting to review progress on transport and infrastructure projects, including the Orange Line Metro Train and Lahore Ring Road southern loop projects.

“The train project is being started with the cooperation of China. It will be another gift from the government for the people. It will be an example of standard and transparency,” he said.

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The chief minister directed officials to set up two sub-committees to oversee the design of the metro train stations and to deal with technical matters of the project.

He said that a separate portal should be developed for the project with the support of Punjab Information Technology Board.



The chief minister said that provision of electricity for metro train stations through solar energy should be considered.

“All the metro train stations would be of international standard,” he said.

He said that a solid strategy had been formulated for the improvement of infrastructure and provision of quality and modern transport facilities to the people. “A third party audit has been made compulsory for ensuring transparency in all development projects being completed by the government,” he said.

He said that the metro bus projects in Lahore and Rawalpindi had been highly successful. “A metro bus project has also been started in Multan. Work is being carried out round-the-clock on the project,” he said.

Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan and Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and several government officials attended the meeting.

The CM directed the officers to work hard to make the mega projects a success. “In order to ensure continuity of the culture of transparency, high standard and speed introduced in the Punjab, government departments should build their capacity,” he said.

PDMA

Rs550 million has been issued to administrations of flood-hit districts so far to help the affected people, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Jawad Akram said on Thursday.

He said that the Punjab government had provided relief items worth Rs600 million so far.

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“On the instructions of the chief minister, cabinet members and senior officials are supervising relief activities,” he said.

He said that 140 relief camps had been set up in the seven flood-affected districts.

“A total of 100 medical centres have also been established for providing medical assistance to the flood-affected people. 35,600 tents, 135,750 food hampers, 82,000 bottles of mineral water, 22,550 mosquito nets and 17,050 plastic mats have been provided to the administrations of all flood-hit districts,” he said.

He said that 154,181 flood victims had been evacuated through 279 boats so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.