Punjab

Rural-urban divide : ‘Govt is closing development gap’

South Punjab will get additional rural roads funds: CM

Our Correspondent November 15, 2015

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: APP

LAHORE:

“Modern transport facilities are essential for development,” Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.

He was reviewing progress on the Multan Metro Bus project.

The chief minister said billions of rupees was being spent for provision of modern transport facilities to masses.

“After the glorious success of Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus projects, I am looking forward to success of the metro bus project in Multan,” he said. He said the metro bus was a modern, economical and comfortable means of travel. The chief minister said his government had evolved a comprehensive plan for improving infrastructure in the province. “Efforts have been made to modernise communication and travel,” he said.

Sharif directed the district administration of Multan to ensure quality of construction material for the metro bus.

“The metro bus projects are a glorious example of utilisation of public money for benefit the masses,” he said. Later, the chief minister chaired a meeting on the Rural Roads Programme.

Addressing the meeting, he said that the government wanted a balanced policy for development in urban and rural areas. He said Rs150 billion had been allocated for the Rural Roads Programme for the repair and renovation of rural roads in two and half years.

“The completion of this programme will usher in modern communication facilities for rural populations,” he said.

The chief minister said the south Punjab had been allocated 10 per cent additional share under the Rural Roads Programme. “The decision reflects the government’s resolve to improve living standards in all parts of the province,” he said.

“Modern facilities do not just belong to the elite,” he said. “Their benefits must be shared with the common man.

He said the Rural Roads Programme would promote skill development in villages and create new job opportunities.

He said farmers, industrial workers and students will all benefit from the programme.

Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, the Punjab Mass Transit Authority managing director, NESPAK managing director and the LDA director general were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (2)

Waqar | 9 years ago | Reply Currently, the Metrobus costs each passenger Rs.60 per ride, out of which the passenger pays only Rs.20 while the government subsidizes the rest. And on top of that the fare is a flat Rs.20 no matter the distance traveled. This is not a financially sustainable business model, and already to save costs the number of buses running on the metrobus route (at least in Rawalpindi-Islamabad) have been dramatically reduced, resulting in severe overcrowding in the few buses that do run. The government must improve the metrobus project's finances to make it successful. Firstly, the metrobus corporation should introduce advertising in its buses and stations and collect revenue from that. When approaching each station, the bus can announce attractive features of nearby parks, commercial areas or other important landmarks. That too is a form of advertising for which it can take payment from the entities the announcements are made for. In the event of development of broadband penetration, the metrobus corporation can arrange to have fiber-optic or other such cables laid on its routes, and collect royalty for that. The metrobus corporation should also publicly list a minority of its shares so that some private investment would also start coming into the metrobus project. Most importantly, the metrobus should charge passengers fares depending on the actual distance they travel while still keeping them affordable to the common man. With these measures, the metrobus corporation can raise enough money to increase the number of buses running the route and keep the whole project profitable.

Karachiite | 9 years ago | Reply chief saab, urbanisation does not only mean constructing roads, things like environment, recreational facilities, developing markets, regulating urban infrastructure and clean water supply to residents are also there!

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