Underground train service okayed

Punjab cabinet approves inclusion of project for Lahore in ADP

LAHORE:

The Punjab cabinet has approved a plan to launch an underground mass transit system in Lahore and incorporate the project into the Annual Development Programme (ADP) along with the Blue and Purple line transport schemes.

Presiding over a cabinet meeting on Friday, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said he did not want to ‘ruin Lahore’ like Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and would introduce the underground train system.

He said the Blue Line, Purple Line and mass transit project would be launched with the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Not a single penny of the Punjab government will be spent.

The underground mass transit system will be built from Valencia Housing Society to Kalma Chowk, Liberty Chowk, Data Darbar and up to the airport. Eight big stations of the Orange Line will also be developed.

The cabinet also granted approval to the Planningb and Development Board and the transport department to hold negotiations with the bank for technical assistance and financing.

The cabinet prayed for the martyrs of the Peshawar APS and paid tribute over their sacrifice.

It also approved decrease by 50 per cent in the per unit rates of ownership rights for giving land to landless farmers in Cholistan. Approval was also granted to grant exemption from value-added tax for the ambassadors and consulates.

The Punjab cabinet approved inductions in the health department from grades five to 15 and contract employment in the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

A decision was also taken to induct teachers on 600 vacant posts in order to fulfil shortage of teachers in colleges. The cabinet accorded approval to lift the ban on inductions in the Government College University Faisalabad.

Approval was also accorded to provide cancer treatment in the Children Hospital along with hospitals in Faisalabad and Gujrat. The cabinet gave a go-ahead for introducing the cancer treatment cyber knife technology and linear accelerator in the three hospitals.

The chief minister announced that a cardiology hospital would be established in Sargodha and the number of beds in the Faisalabad Cardiology Hospital would be increased.

The Punjab cabinet approved the formation of Wohwa tehsil in the new district of Taunsa. A 207km road will be constructed from Chichawatini, Rojhana, Pir Mahal, Chowk Azam and Layyah up to Taunsa, and a 103km road from M-4 Motorway at Chiraghanbad on Jhang Bypass up to Shorkot. A 75km road will be built from Depalpur to Pakpattan and 150km from Dipalpur to Vehari. Approval was also accorded to increase the wages under the social security scheme.

The cabinet approved administrative and financial autonomy for the Aitcheson and Lawrence colleges under the Punjab Educational Institutional (Reconstitution) Act 2021. Approval was granted for the renewal of an agreement with the Pakistan Air Force regarding the Fort Munro THQ Hospital.

The provincial cabinet approved an amendment to the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Conditions of Service) Rules 2007 for the promotion of assistant district public prosecutors.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2022.