PM Nawaz studies the layout of the bus service route. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Basking in the afterglow of the multi-billion-rupee Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered on Thursday to help the provincial administrations of Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in developing a mass transit system on the pattern of the Lahore and Islamabad metro bus projects.
Addressing a grand opening of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service at the Jinnah Convention Centre on Thursday, the premier said: “The project was completed with public money. No one can question its transparency.”
Counting the benefits of the metro bus service, Nawaz said the residents of the twin-cities would not only be able to save their precious time but also reduce their commuting expenses.
The premier said Hazara and Lahore-Karachi motorways were also under construction, while Shahbaz mentioned that construction of the Multan Metro Bus Service would be initiated soon.
CM Shahbaz dubbed the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service one of the world’s best mass transit projects. “It’s a true reflection of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a welfare state.”
He said the project took nine months of work to complete despite some hurdles. “The PC-I cost of the project was Rs44 billion, which included Rs5 billion incurred on the Peshawar Morr Interchange. Around Rs2 billion were saved on the project.”
The Convention Centre was almost packed to its capacity, as the ceremony was attended by chief ministers of Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, federal and provincial ministers, MPs of the ruling and opposition parties, diplomats, foreign dignitaries, and representatives of construction firms and the labourers who worked on the project.
PM Nawaz looked overjoyed at the ceremony. He even cracked jokes at the expense of his younger brother, CM Shahbaz Sharif: “People have learnt by heart the verses you (Shahbaz) recite at every ceremony. Pakistan is changing now. You should also change your poetry.” The premier’s comment evoked laughter from the audience.
The metro bus project consists of 23km of service road, 32km of footpath and 45km of drainage network, according to Shahbaz. The project should be called Pakistan Metro Bus Service because it would facilitate people hailing from all four provinces, adding that progress of the federation was linked with that of the federating units, he said.
The chief minister said the operation of the buses had been outsourced. “In case of any negligence, the company would be fined.”
He also suggested to the prime minister that a Pride of Performance award be announced for the project manager, Capt (retd) Zahid Saeed.
The project features automatic ticket-vending machines, two generators at each of the 24 bus stations, escalators, lifts for the elderly, the disabled and families, free Wi-Fi and LED screens, toilets, potable water, and round-the-clock security at the stations and in the buses – all at par with international standards.
The metro bus service would be under the watchful eyes of a central control room that would monitor its 10 stations in Rawalpindi and 14 in Islamabad through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
The buses have a separate compartment for women, and separate seats for the disabled and the elderly. They also feature CCTV cameras and travel information screens.
Trade corridor
The prime minister hailed all the political leaders present in the inauguration ceremony for reaching a consensus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “Some Rs30 billion have been allocated for constructing the western route of the corridor in the upcoming fiscal year.”
As long as the political leadership of the country are unanimous in their decisions, development will not be allowed to derail at any cost, he added.
Regarding the energy crisis, Nawaz said the government would end the power woes of the people within the next three years. “Two power generation projects with a total capacity of 10,600 megawatts are under development.”
As for law and order, he said the situation in Karachi and Balochistan had significantly improved because of the government’s policies. “Pakistan is fighting a decisive war against terrorism, and we have no other option but to win it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2015.
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