Orange Line: ‘Metro will provide int’l standard facility’

Shahbaz praises law enforcement agencies, lawmakers for Muharram arrangements

LAHORE: The Orange Line Metro Train project will provide an international-standard transportation facility to people upon its completion, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.

He was presiding over a meeting to review progress on the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.

“The project is a milestone in the provision of latest transport facilities. The day is not far when people will travel by air-conditioned metro trains of international standard. They will be proud of being Pakistani. These projects have been launched for people who have had to travel in extreme heat and cold in smoke-emitting buses,” he said.

He said that through metro bus service, a new transport culture had been initiated in Pakistan “Hundreds of thousands of people reach their destinations through metro buses daily. The Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project will also bring about a revolutionary change in the transport culture,” he said. The chief minister said that metro train project was a great gift from the Chinese people for the people of Pakistan.

“The Punjab government is spending funds in a transparent manner on the provision of basic amenities to the citizens,” he said. Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan and Chief Secretary Khyzar Hayat Gondal attended the meeting.

PML-N delegation

Separately, the CM met a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office bearers.

“Those opposing development projects have no interest in the welfare of the common man. They should give up this negative approach and come up with constructive suggestions,” he said. He said that strengthening of the economy, elimination of terrorism and solution of energy crisis were the top priorities of the government.



“Gas, coal, hydel and solar power projects are being set up. The foundation stones of gas-based power projects in Bhikki and Haveli Bahadur Shah have been laid. A power house will soon be inaugurated in Balloki,” he said. He said agriculture was the backbone of the economy. That was the reason the government had announced a historic relief package for small cultivators. “The Khadim-i-Punjab Rural Roads programme will be used to repair and rehabilitate rural roads,” he said.

Law and order

The chief minister praised the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, elected representatives, the law-enforcement agencies and district administrations for Muharram arrangements during a meeting.

“All departments worked as a team and performed their responsibilities to maintain law and order during Ashura. “The Committee on Law and Order made exemplary efforts for controlling law and order,” he said.

Separately, the CM directed Provincial Cabinet Committee on Dengue Eradication to take effective measures against the spread of dengue in Rawalpindi and Multan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.