This is the second visit of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif to Rawalpindi within eight days which shows his special interest in seeing the project’s immediate completion. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM/EXPRESS
Besides directing to improve the horticulture alongside the route of the metro corridor, the CM directed expedition of work at package-V of the Islamabad section of the project that lags behind the other construction packages. The overall progress at package-V is stated to be 85 per cent complete.
Shahbaz, accompanied by representatives from the city’s administration, civic agencies and elected MPs of Rawalpindi and Islamabad besides officials from Nespak and the Punjab Metro Bus Authority, also took a test-ride.
The delegation started their journey from Saddar, Rawalpindi, and went along the whole route of the project. Sharif also made brief stay at Faizabad station, and visited package-V of the Islamabad section on foot, as it is yet to be opened for the metro buses.
After inspecting the construction on site, the chief minister chaired a meeting at the Punjab House where he was briefed about the overall progress on the project and the expected date of completion.
The remaining finishing and construction work on different construction contracts of the project would be completed by this Friday, said an official who attended the briefing while talking to The Express Tribune.
However, the meeting did not set a date for the inauguration of the project, however, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the project in this month.
“People of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have shown extreme patience during the construction work and boldly faced various problems for which I pay tribute to traders, students, employees and all citizens,” a handout issued by the public relations directorate of the Government of Punjab quoted Sharif as saying on the occasion of his visit.
It added that the chief minister expressed satisfaction over the pace of work; however, he stressed the need for further acceleration.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2015.
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