Air Punjab to lease 4 planes

CM Maryam also approved Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train project

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to launch Pakistan's first provincial airline, 'Air Punjab, and approved in principle a plan to initiate the Lahore-Rawalpindi bullet train project.

Chairing a meeting for a detailed briefing on the plans, she directed the authorities to immediately lease four Airbus planes for Air Punjab.

She said the airline would initially start flights within the country. After the completion of a year, Air Punjab will also be able to start foreign flights.

She directed the relevant authorities to immediately make arrangements to lease latest aircraft for the airline. She also directed them to make arrangements to make Air Punjab the best airline in the country.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also informed, "The journey time from Lahore to Rawalpindi through bullet train will be reduced to about two and a half hours."

She reviewed various options for running the bullet train in collaboration with Pakistan Railways, and assigned Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb the task in this regard.

Directing the authorities to take steps for launching Pakistan's first bullet train, the chief minister said, "The option of public-private partnership for the bullet train project is also being considered."

She also sought plans for launching high-speed trains on six more routes in Punjab. The routes are Lahore-Shahdara-Narowal, Lahore-Raiwind-Kasur-Pakpattan-Lodhran, Sheikhupurat-Jaranwala-Shorkot, Shorkot-Jhang-Sargodha, Lala Musa-Sargodha via Malikwal and Faisalabad-Chak Jhumra-Shaheenabad.

The chief minister also reviewed the Lahore Yellow Line and Gugranwala Mass Transit Line projects.

She set the deadline of May 30 to complete the feasibility study for the Thokar Niaz Baig to Harbanspora Yellow Line, and June 15 for the Gujranwala Mass Transit project.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also briefed in detail about an e-taxi project.

Meanwhile, Member of Provincial Assembly Malik Noshir Khan Langrial met the chief minister and thanked her for the launch of the Multan-Vehari road project. "The completion of Multan-Vehari road will benefit millions of people living in four adjoining districts," he said.

The CM said the promise of providing free medicines to patients will be fulfilled at all cost.

Tourism capital

"Lahore, a city of history, heritage and love, has been declared 'Tourism Capital 2027' at the sixth ECO Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Erzurum, Turkiye," said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in a message of gratitude on a social networking website.

She added, "With its magnificent historical heritage, colourful culture and immense potential, Lahore is ready to welcome the world."

The chief minister said, "As ECO Tourism Capital 2027, Lahore is going to be an attractive centre of tourism on the global stage. We deeply thank ECO countries for choosing Lahore as ECO Tourism Capital 2027."

She vowed to bring the beauty of Pakistan, Punjab and Lahore to the world with the trust, support and cooperation of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).