‘New buses will revolutionise transport system’

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the provincial government is spending billions of rupees under a comprehensive policy, on the provision of modern public transport facilities to the masses.
He was addressing a high level meeting regarding the launch of the new public transport system. The meeting considered in detail matters regarding the introduction of the new transport system, like the issuance of concession cards to students.
Addressing the meeting, Sharif said a new system of air conditioned public transport is being introduced in the big cities for the benefit of the people. A modern system of public transport has been launched in Lahore and Faisalabad, while a new bus service will soon be available to the people of other cities as well, he stated.
The CM said under the public transport scheme, 1200 buses manufactured by the Chinese company Ankai are being acquired which will revolutionise the transport system. He added that the scheme will rid the people of the obsolete and uncomfortable public transport buses plying on the city’s roads.
Shahbaz Sharif said the public transport system is the identity of a developed and civilised society and that result-oriented measures have been taken for the improvement of the public transport system during the last four years which have especially benefited the common man. He stated that private investment in public transport system is being encouraged and that the government has also decided to issue concessionary tickets to the students at a flat rate of Rs 10 rupees.
He said the student cards will be of modern design and it will not be possible to copy them. Similarly, he said the electronic ticketing system will also be initiated for the passengers.
The CM informed the meeting that trackers will also be installed in the public transport buses for ensuring that the buses complete their routes.
Sharif said workshops will be established for operators in Lahore and other cities for the repair and provision of spare parts for the buses operating under the new public transport system.
He directed that a practicable method of insurance of these buses should also be evolved.
The CM stated that besides education and health, a modern public transport system is also a basic right of the masses. In this connection, the measures taken by the government have especially benefited the masses.
Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hasaan informed the meeting about the measures taken for modernising the public transport system.
Provincial Transport Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, LTC Vice-Chairman Mehr Ishtiaq, Planning and Development chairman, Divisional commissioners, Lahore District Coordination Officer and other officers were also present during the meeting.