Urban development: Elahi lashes out at Sharif’s transport scheme
Senior Federal Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, on Tuesday, criticised the Punjab government’s welfare and development projects. Elahi also spoke disparagingly about closure of the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) which he recalled he had initiated during his term in office. He called the incumbent government’s initiative in this regard an eyewash.
Elahi was speaking at a press conference at the State Guest House where he commented on three years ‘progress’ of the incumbent government. Had the government carried on where he left, eh said, the Rapid Mass Transit project would have been completed in 2012.
“The present government has only signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). No one is sure when it will be turned into an agreement” he added.
The minister said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was seeking credit for the LRMTS project by changing its name.
Elahi pointed out that the total $2.4 billion cost of the project consisted of a pledge by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) of $1 billion, foreign investment of $1 billion and the Punjab government’s contribution of $0.4 million in terms of equity. He said that ADB had issued the first installment of the amount it was to contribute but after he left office, Sharif informed the ADB that his government was unwilling to complete the project. Elahi said that Sharif had only managed to have the province declared “not suitable for any foreign investment”. He said that according to a feasibility study the LRMTS would add $100 million in trade, $400 million in construction works and provide employment for one million people.
He said that LRMTS, as envisioned by his government, was a 97 kilometres rail and would transport almost 30,000 passengers every day. The incumbent government, he said, had reduced it to 27 km.
He apprehended that the proposed underground train would fail like Sharif’s several other projects. He alleged that the government had not undertaken a feasibility study for the underground train system.
He said that Sharif had earlier wasted the taxpayers’ money on his Sasti Roti Scheme. Elahi said that he had ordered free medicines in hospital emergencies while Sharif had announced an upgrade of hospital air conditioners and allocated Rs4 billion for this. He added that because of the energy crisis the air conditioners could not be operated.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2011.
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Pervaiz Elahi completely failed in his tenure.. He didn't explained that his estimates of the project was 2.3 billion US DOllars.. Now its 1.7 $ billion.. Under pervaiz elahi it would not even see the day of light.. Carry on the good work Sharifs, at least biggest problem i.e urban transportation will be resolved..
Pervaiz Elahi was completely failed in bringing better transport solution to the city ......... and so did Shahbaz Sharif ......... they can't the huge mafia ......... which first ruled as wagon and now may be Ching chi ........ so the plight of the commuters in the Mega cities of Pakistan will remain and no change expected ............
All that the sharif brothers are intelectually capabale of is to give taxis to educated youth while fake degree holders can hold public offices
I agree to Pervaiz what he said. Mr Shabiz has no proper vision to sustainable devlopment. CM's scheme on Cheap bread is one of the highest example of his poor vision for devlopment. God bless Punjab. However Mr pervaiz Elahi either did nothing for Punjab in his Regime now he is just giving press statements that is hard hard to belive. He has to shwon his devlopment then to words over words.
Pervez Elahi has a point. I would also add to what he has said by saying that current Punjab Government has failed to urbanise other centers in Punjab by spending money in areas other than Lahore. Most of the funds, rather 40% this year's development funds, and 60% of last year's development funds of Punjab are getting spent in Lahore which is totally insane. Lahore is exploding with population and it needs a break, god knows when the government will learn to divert the population explosion to other cities or smaller places.