According to the Punjab government, the project cost Rs30 billion. The figure, however, is disputed by the opposition. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ ZAHOORUL HAQ.
The routes and stations were decorated with fresh flowers and posters representing Pakistani culture. Lahoris danced to drums celebrating the new service introduced by the Punjab government.
For one month, the Metro Bus will offer services free of cost to the people of Lahore.
A high-level Turkish delegation, led by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister participated in the inaugural ceremony.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Chief Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif were also present.
Shahbaz, speaking at the event, said that it was a “great” day in the history of Pakistan.
He said that not only factory workers will travel in these buses, but factory owners will also travel in them soon. “Patients will go to hospitals through these buses. Our doctors and nurses will also travel through them,” he said adding that he himself will use these buses to travel.
Shahbaz said that the buses will save time and money by taking 150 people, who were earlier travelling in 100 cars, in one vehicle. “This will also save fuel and time... and avoid traffic jams.”
He vowed that the investment done in the project will be returned to the people in four and a half years.
Diplomats from various other countries and other political personalities including Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Mawaz, American counsulate Nina Maria, Chaudhry Nisar, Liaqat Baloch, Talat Bugti and chief secretary Punjab Tariq Masood Khosa attended the inaugural ceremony.
Special guests at the event, including the Punjab chief minister and the PML-N chief, travelled in the bus during the inauguration event.
As soon as the bus service was opened for the public, a large number of people rushed towards the bus stops. Police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the crowd.
On February 5, last year the ground had broken for the project. Work on the 27-kilometre long project – from Gajju Matta to Shahdara – started on March 12.
According to the Punjab government, the project cost Rs30 billion. The figure, however, is disputed by the opposition.
The project is currently missing a bridge over River Ravi as a result of which the buses will use the existing Ravi Bridge.
Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasan expects 20,000-40,000 people to use the service which he says has the capacity to cater to 112,000 people every day.
COMMENTS (99)
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Dear Shamim, This project actually cost 90 Billion out of which 30 Billion spent by Govt. of the Punjab where as balance 60 Gillion was spend by Turkey.
Hope you will understand the situation now.
I was thkiking that after the news of no free charge on metro. PPP , PML-Q , MQM , PTI will say against Shabaz Sharif , that he used too much of the punjab money he could also use that money on school and hospitals. And they kept on saying against him . My guess was correct .
Instead of saying that now Monsy had been invested lets try to save this money and try to make this project (Lahore Metro) a success!
But instead of saying this they say that it's useless. This same happens with the creation of the motor way. When motor way was created Our people of nation will know it when time will pass that it's really great for transport!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our trains and transports are from the era of gora people and no one had worked on it since then i salute Shabaz Sharif that man can unite all the pakistan if he have all the Authority. If he gets the Authority of electricity , gas then he can finish that project in six months!!!!!!!!!!
@Zahra: Is the Motorway unsustainable? Look at how it has grown and now is the best infrastructure project in Pakistan. Rather than complain, you should see how useful this project will be for common citizens. Why is Lahore so much better than other cities in Pakistan? Why are all Punjab cities better than other cities? The answer is management and spending on people to improve the province.
Another visionary project delivered by PML-N government to the people of Pakistan. PML-N has the record of delivering Motorways network (Khyber to Karachi planned), up gradation of Karachi & Lahore international airports (world standard), Gwadar deep sea port (for mother ships), JF Thunder aircrafts (invincible airforce), Ghazi Barotha Dam (the last hydel power project adding 1450 MW) and making Pakistan the 7th nuclear state in the world!
Mass transit system is indispensable for all mega cities in the world. I have travelled through mass transit in Japan, Malaysia, Turkey, UK and even India. These projects are indespensable to move millions of people every day, reduce congestion on roads, reduce fuel cost, reduce environmental pollution and multiplicative economic benefits in the form of time & money.
I remember that there was similar hue & cry by a few pessimist critics when Motorway was being constructed during 1990s. But the economic benefit of Motorway was not understood by these pessimists. In 2005, runaway Dictator General Musharraf raised US$500 Million of loans through issuance of sukuks against the same Motorway.
While we continue to hear news of target killings & extortions from Karachi, breakdown of law & order in Balochistan, drone attacks on FATA and suicide attacks in KPK there is some good news from Pakistan.
Instead of wasting nation's time on unhealthy criticism of visionary projects, why don't these bunch of pessimist critics criticise those other provincial governments for inaction & failure?
Living abroad, I desire to visit Pakistan and will definitely travel by Metro!!!
@Concerned:
yes we hate young doctor's
young's oh god, they are create crises only... really bad doctor not saying young doctor's defaulter doctor's.. Allah in KO hydiayat Dy ameeeeeen.
@Faisal Memon These are Diesel not CNG buses......
it could be ok if its not tandory roti project
ALLAH bless Pakistan. ALLAH bless PML(N). ALLAH bless Mian Brothers.
Lots of talk going about the record time for the completion of the project. Please use common sense...Cm "I want this happen before Election"...should I elaborate? :P besides i am a PTI supporter i do appreciate the effort. Now pmln has at least something to go with in the upcoming election.
This is a great project. In the beginning, I was a huge critic. I preferred the Lahore Metro idea (still do) that connects underground at the Lahore train station because it can effectively replace the entire private transport network in Lahore (good riddance to them to be honest). To me, this was a shoddy second best idea to take a lead over the PTI during the elections (I still think it is).
But then again, this is Pakistan, nothing ever gets done here. Election stunts are better than no stunts at all (PPP anyone?). And on further evaluation, this actually is a mega project if they're not nearly done yet. If they do the same thing on Multan and GT Roads that they did on Ferozepur Road, convert it to light rail over the long term, and run feeder bus lines from the stations to Canal Road, Mall Road, and to Gulberg and the Airport, then it really covers the entire city, and the whole project would cost less than what the Lahore Metro would cost. Plus, running buses is cheaper than trains I wouldn't go with Turkish firms (that's a political decision made because Pakistanis know Turkey) but rather, look to Transmilenio in Bogota, Colombia or the system in Cutiritba, Brazil, they are the real visionaries when it comes to Bus Rapid Transit.
@Aijaz: Why don;t you come to Punjab and see how many cities have improved- not just Lahore. Rather than appreciate good work, complaining is the sad reality for so many people. I remember people saying saying the same about the Motorway- it's good that the Sharifs didn't listen to them and listened to the people.
@zahid: Well said, he seems to be the mayor of Lahore.
Punjab is always targetted, but only punjab has sincere leaders.
What have your chief ministers done?
Show me one thing in KPK, SINDH or Balochistan.
I can show you hundred in Punjab.
@Usman: Have you been to Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujrat? All of Punjab's cities have been improving despite the problems in other parts of the country. I am glad that Lahore is finally going to open the Rapid Bus Service - it is going to be a big blessing for people there. It's easy to criticise and say money should be spent here or there. At least Shahbaz Sharif spends it on his people!
when motorway was made so many haters criticised it, but today it is the finest transport system in the country , it was built for around 20 billion and now its worth 220 billion. We Pakistanis always see the negative side of everything and pull each others legs.. congratulations to PMLN and Pakistan. what projects have taken place in Sindh in the last 10 years ?? people should ask MQM and PPP!!!!
What is Metro Bus project, Amazing facts, Never Seen B4 !!
10 mints report about one of the biggest project in Lahore. How and when it will be done, some AMAZING facts. Plz Watch and Share. Watch here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=479903065404243
In my opinion the priority should be education & health facilities.
All Government employees should be forced to ride on these buses to work and return the Government cars which they bestow to each other.
Masha Allah, the citizens of Pakistan will soon realise the importance of a safe, swift and comfortable means of transportation. One has to have some Self Respect left to appreciate that the passengers won't have to bend their backs anymore during the rush hours travelling. The critiques are welcomed to maintain their bent position if they want to. Well done, Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
Punjab marches on, wheras we in Karachi and Sind count the dead. Thanx to the coalition.
@Sikander Fayyaz Bhadera: Your point is well made. Rural rail or road construction and access to markets for peasants would not only give better value for money spent for a greater number of citizens and result in poverty amelioration, it would probably contribute more to the national exchequer. But the attractiveness of fair allocation of funds is lost on our voting awam.
Please do this for my home city of Karachi. Wish we had a Shahbaz Shareef in Karachi
It's a great initiative. Hope other major cities replicate similar trends! keep up....Pakistan needs to move forward now.
In Punjab, why every project is for lahore only, what about Multan, Bahawalpur, Jhang etc ?
Taxpayer money used for election campaign. Was not from Sharif pocket, spending it like Mughal emperors. Mughals were constructing palaces and buildings while west was building Harvard and Oxford.
Congratulations.
Now that Metro Bus Service is up and running, can we please have sewerage system in Chishtian? Also, we won't mind clean drinking water either. And if there is any spare fund, (from Lahore) the farm to market roads connecting my village and surrounding areas to city, were last repaired in 1988. Our basic health units, village hospitals, haven't received any medicine for years now, some attention there too. Entire city is in shambles... Ek zara nazar-e-karam idher bhi ho jaye...
Very well done by Khadim-e-Lahore.
I couldn't care too much for this project, but Karachi does NOT contribute 70% of revenue/wealth of Pakistan. Karachi accounts for 20% of Pakistan's GDP, whilst Punjab generates over 60%.
We needed electricity too Mian Shahbaz Sharif, why didn't you built any dams in Punjab?
The PML(N) has again taken the lead to serve the nation. The Metro Bus Service is really a gift to the people of Punjab. This service will decrease the gap between rich and poor. No doubt Shabaz Sharif is the asset of this Nation. Keep it up.
pakistan tehreek insaf,i love you
Regarding this kind of Project in Karachi, the underground and elevated subway train system was already planned and approved in the times of City govt when Naimat ullah Khan was mayor and continued on under Mustufa Kamal's time all under Musharaf but all was sabatoged when PPP came to power and in league with the transport mafia destroyed the project (ADB had even approved the loan for it) as well as the city govt. (btw, PML-N also opposed local govt system).
Rs 30 billion are down in the toilet. PMLN truly has no vision.
This proves that Pakistan is the most modern country of Asia and should be treated as a model nations by other developing countries. Keep up the good work.
Congratulations to Lahoriz! I just wish if we could ever had S.Sharif for Sind too. In last week main sanitary market (Gulbhar) opened for only 2.5 days in Karachi.... just to share how the business running in Karachi. Actually we Karachite are happy to contribute in the prosperity of London :)
Karachites can have this facility if they decide to get rid of bhata Khors and Zordar Lutayras.Shafique
@Lota: It's free for only one month!
@zahid. .no development in karachi/sind , baluchistan has nothing to do with punjab. . We are building on our own. . . Infact punjab is developing despite discriminatory behaviour of (your belevoed) ppp fedral government.
I have opposed this Project from the very beginning. Billions of rupees have been spent on this Project. Its fate will not be different from the other transport projects which have been tried in the past to improve the passenger traffic. Its performance will not be more than one year and all the buses will be dumped by that time. Government could spend this huge money on education and betterment of medical faciliies in the provinve. A good number of schools, colleges and hospitals could be built by thos huge money. Businesses of a large number of people have also been destroyed on this route whose lands have been acquired and shops and businesses have been destroyed.
by allowing other vehicles to use the facility on payment basis can bring back thirty billion well before four and half years. such projects can also be executed under Public Private Partnership arrangement.
@zahid: Rather than criticise this projects, ask yourself why people in Punjab are excited about a mass transit project that is being opening. It is a revolutionary step to have an efficient mass transit system like Bogata andIstanbul upon which the Bus transport system has been based. It is designed for all segments of society. I remember people complaining about the motorways the Sharifs made but can you imagine Pakistan now without them? The infrastructure improvements that Shahbaz Sharif has done are now indispensible. This project can be replicated in all of Punjab cities since it is on BOT basis. Rather than hating on all the development and progress in Punjab, get your provincial administration in Sind and other provinces to do something for the people too. Then other provinces will develop too.
These bendy coaches have been taken off the routes in London UK for being too expensive to run. I am wondering if a rich city like London can not afford to run these high maintenance vehicles how on earth the city of Lahore can afford them?
@Shaami: Turkey is a friendly nation that conducted business in Pakistan at a time we are distrusted by the world and viewed as a sponsor of corruption and terrorism. We should keep our friends or partners close and encourage co-operation towards prosperity.
Its nt abt Karachi or Lahore,,,If sum thng gud has been done for the ppl dt should be appreciated,,,
great service. a releif for lahori's
@aysha and others: Firstly, like everybody else has said, because the project was launched in lahore, its not discrimination. Two different parties are in power so they'll do what they believe is best for their respective provinces. Secondly, we all should be ashamed of ourselves, playing the karachi and lahore card. This is a start of modern transport system in PAKISTAN, OUR country. Its talk like this which divides us and makes us weaker. We are one nation and we should be happy for each other. Karachi improved massively during mustafa kamal's time and we are very proud of it, sitting here in punjab. Don't let such pity issues divide us and don't make it easy for outside sources who believe in ''divide and conquer''. We have already divided ourselves for them. Needless to say, this project is a step forward in the right direction.
Of course this is first step for improving state`s economy by saving fuel. I really appreciate the efforts of Punjabs CM and his sincerity toward the province, while at the same time we can't expect anything from Sindhs CM, he only knows how to take intoxicants and to garner money. He is spot on Sindhs history!
I think this money could have been utilized on much better places like improvements in policing system, buying more vehicles, anti terrorism, security equipment for law enforcement agencies,could have been utilized to make the justice system better, education for hundreds of thousands of children working in workshops, begging, doing labour. These things look good only when you have the basics covered, in a country like ours, where people are striving to get their basic rights, such luxuries don't make sense IMHO.
@Caffeine Dose: Not a PMLN supporter but can see who has what priorities.
PMLN is inaugurated bus system while PPP inaugurates Bilawal House
Jiyeay Jamhooriyat!! You have said it as it is.However instead,I would say-jiyay Bhutto! as the always say it.
City of 10 million getting metro BUS project dat too running on CNG which is rare to find in Punjab and not at all product of Punjab. Don't know should i laugh or sympathize wid ppl appreciating this Project.
@Umair: Pakistan is always ruled by the Non-Mullahs & Non-Punjabis
Well done CM. You are true Pakistani. You are future of sacred land of Pakistan. We want 100% literacy rate and 0 % unemployment rate in a peaceful Pakistan for our children. We pay salute to the people like Shebaz Sharif....
Fair enough...it might help some people. But please don't label these as mega projects. It's 27 additional buses and few km of dedicated bus lanes..that's it. If Punjab govt didn't spend so much money on publicity..it would just be a routine project...which the Punjab govt is SUPPOSED to be doing anyway!
If as a Pakistani I go to any international forum and say this bus project is a MEGA project I would be laughed out of the room.
@aysha: you should learn some lesson from your observations and come up with the reason why it is so. Just being aprehensive wont bring any change.
Why was some one from American consulate their? Can't we even have inaugural ceremonies on our own?
@Shaami: just a routine stupidity...
I dont see what the fuss is about. I am from Lahore, and have seen through many such failed PMLN's schemes. These projects are unsustainable. These people undertake these projects but i would like to see their condition in 5 years. Once they get into parliament nothing will be given to maintain these projects, which were to fetch votes in the first place! Also, i don't see whats the big deal about these things - it is not that these things are done out of their pockets, we as tax payers have the right to demand better roads and facilities. I don't understand the so called big sacrifices they made. What makes for a good output on any project? Good labour, Good capital, good support/logistics team. With the amount of resources they have access to, it is no big deal that they did this, these projects are a minimum they should be doing.
Travel in (PMLN's) free bus but vote for ???
please Turky, send some metrol burnol services for PTI fans here. its in shortage now.
election stunt of the PML-N government.
Please give us shahbaz sharif as CM Sindh. You can have our entire provincial assembly in return.
I am a Sindhi by the way and I voted for PPP in last elections just for BB Shaheed.
This is a step in the right direction to introduce public transport but it has come at great cost. People of other cities don't know at what cost it has come. Lahoris have bared a lot of traffic jam and a lot of roads were blocked since the day the project started. And it has cost a lot of money. I hope it will be worth it as public transport is what is needed for the traffic of lahore.
@ ayesha
Respectfully miss, its not discrimination as lahore and karachi got two different administrations. no one has stopped the karachi administration to do even better than lahore project. 100% agreed that Karachi needs it more than any city else but we need to choose better people in upcoming elections.
@hassan:
If punjab Governement is going to be brutal with Docotors in punjab she is surely going to win next elections. Right now people in punjab hate Doctors more than any other thing.
@Shaami: sincerety of friendship cannot be measured in terms of money. Turkey is our sincere and time tested friend which can be relied upon in all weathers. Friendship of turkey becomes even moreimportant especially at a time when our country is surrounded by enemies and hypocrites in the guise of allies and friends. I fail to understand your objecton to Turkish flags.
Shabaash ... excellent ... marvelous ....
@zahid: How this has anything to do with the fall of dhaka.
Really stupid comments.
haters gonna hate & mover gonna move on.. well done Punjab...
strange how 30-40 billion could be used for a bus service, which i might add already existed in some form in various parts of lahore. but no money is being made available to the health care sector for pay rises so doctors are forced to go on a strike.
@aysha: its not discrimination, we brought this on us, if this project was in karachi we would only use them for burning purposes. why would anybody invest in such a project for karachi? we dont deserve these development projects. its sure is an outdated project, but its something. plus the transport mafia of karachi will sabotage such project. we are violent people, did you watch the ceremony? no PML-N flag only Pakistani flags, we the people karachi dont do that, only political flags.
This is the solution with cities bigger than 5 million people, not that every body get a car and rush the road, and get himself and other jam for hours..... great work my Punjab govt...
@aysha: vote right people to get things right :]
atleast we can appreciate the gud step taken by punjab gov!
@aysha: Correction: Karachi generates 101% revenue of Pakistan.
@zahid: Tax payers of the whole Punjab are paying for this election stunt of the PML-N government. This discriminatory attitude of our rulers in the past led to the fall of Dhaka. We have learnt no lesson from the history. If you listen too much to quakes then eventually rational thinking will say goodbye to you. This project is not built by the money from tax payers but on BOT basis and may be some loans from borrowing agencies.The return will be paid by the money collected from commuters. Lahore is big city of international fame and face of the country.It must have a good face.
please send some buses to karachi as well.
@shaami
The mayor of Istanbul us the buses as a gift. !!
Great PML(N). I finally give up in creating propaganda. Imran Khan.
i hope it doesn't bring the same fate as yellow cab scheme brought.
@aysha: what kind of analogy is that?! Why don't you ask your CM or federal Govt to give somethin for Karachi? This project is made out of budget of Punjab & 70% of revenue is also a big exaggeration since many industries are in Punjab not in Sindh. But don't blame Lahore or Punjab for this, blame Sindh Govt & the federal Govt which is in the hands of PPP.
Congratulation to the people of lahore and democracy lovers.Wait and see how fake politicians and fake intelectuals put down such mega project for public benefits.They opposed motorway project tooth and nail.They are doing it again.They are the real enemy of Pakistan. They are hypocrits.
I hope it does not ends up like Shahbaz Sharif's other projects i.e sasti rooti, lap top, danish school etc.
Not a PMLN supporter but can see who has what priorities.
PMLN is inaugurated bus system while PPP inaugurates Bilawal House
Jiyeay Jamhooriyat!!
Good job by Shahbaz Sharif, unbelievable that this was completed in 11months, my wishes for the sucess of this project. I wish this project was built in Karachi, but our leaders PPP & MQM are busy in looting & instead of hearing about big projects we only hear about the big number of people who die everyday.
salute u guys at tribune.. no news of the brutality of punjab govt on the young doctors...
With honest hearts, we people from Karachi envy you.
With this much money the fate of PUNJAB could have been changed. How many universities, government schools, hospitals, libraries could have been built. Pity the nation which loves its looters and plunderers . Sad day in the history of Pakistan. Nothing less than a financial tragedy
The city and the people who generate 70% of the revenue of the country do not deserve Metro Buses, but a city with half the population and much less percentage of the population commuting on daily basis gets it all. Yet another outstanding discrimination, with population as huge as and as diversified as that of Karachi, doesn’t have enough police to maintain law and order, where as Lahore enjoys much higher ratio of police to population, how can Karachi be ever peaceful, with transport is in the hands of the least literate and most temperamental individuals and no local policing. Happy for Lahore, though. Great work Mr. Shareef
Tax payers of the whole Punjab are paying for this election stunt of the PML-N government. This discriminatory attitude of our rulers in the past led to the fall of Dhaka. We have learnt no lesson from the history.
Good Job! But with some prudent measure cost could fall. Anyways a remarkable step in building infrastructure. Such advancements should prevail everywhere within country without prejudice. I am anticipating to see Metro in other cities of Punjab.
Congrats to all enjoy n hav a safe jruny.
Free of charge rides will create choas. A nominal fee must have been there.
Can i ask that how much of the total amount out of 30 billion have been contributed by Turkey that Turkey is given such an Ovation with Turkish flags everywhere.? In my view we simply paid and they did the project and that is how every engineering company works around the world. I think if by paying money you became indebted to the country then everywhere in Dubai you must have American and EU flags throughout Emirates as they are the ones developing Emirates. Turkey have not been able to contribute a single billion rupees in this project then why this protocol?.
A world class rapid mass transit which caters for all segments of the society is exactly what our urban cities need. I hope this project will change the culture of our society and even upper class would prefer to travel via metro buses.