An agreement was signed between the government and Exim Bank of China at Chief Minister’s Office on Monday for the provision of funds for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.
Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was chief guest at the ceremony. Under the agreement, Exim Bank of China will provide funds worth Rs 162 billion on soft terms for the metro train. Federal Secretary Economic Affairs Tariq Bajwa and Vice President of Exim Bank Sun Ping signed the documents. Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistani Ambassador in China Khalid Masood, Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, provincial ministers, MPs, chief secretary, prominent industrialists, bankers, intellectuals, columnists and senior officers of federal and provincial institutions were present on the occasion.
Sharif said that today is an important juncture in the friendship between China and Pakistan as an agreement is being signed for the provision of funds for the metro train project. He said that the splendid project of metro train is an invaluable gift of Chinese government and leadership for 180 million people of Pakistan. He said that this project reflects the full confidence of Chinese leadership in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the love for people of Pakistan. He said that today is a historic day towards provision of a most modern transport system in Pakistan and metro train project is a unique and the first project in the history of Pakistan.
He said that this project is a milestone in Pak-China friendship. He said Pakistan and China are great friends and in the glorious examples of the friendship between the two countries will be written in golden letters. However, he said that the process of close economic cooperation between the two countries started two and a half years ago is spreading to every corner of Pakistan. He said that by extending help to Pakistan in the hour of need, China has proved to be reliable and sincere friend of Pakistan and credit for taking Pak-China friendship to new heights goes to the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
The chief minister said that the project of metro train is an important step towards modern transport system and work has been started expeditiously on the civil works of this unique project in the history of the country. Sharif congratulated the people of Pakistan over signing of agreements for the provision of funds for the historic project of the train and said that after completion of this project, 2,500,000 people will travel by metro train daily and their number will gradually increase.
He said this project is not of Lahore or Punjab but of the whole country. He said under the agreement, the project will be completed in 27 months but every effort will be made for its completion within 24 months and the verbal commitment has been made with Chinese authorities in this regard. He further said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is also important in this respect that it will result in transfer of Chinese technology to Pakistan and creation of hundreds of job opportunities. He said the agreements signed between governments in the Chinese history, Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is the first project the civil works of which has been given to the other government. He said this extraordinary and historic step of China is unprecedented. The chief minister said that due to this decision of China, the civil works of the project are being carried out by the Punjab government that reflect the confidence of China in the abilities and capabilities of Pakistanis construction companies. He said due to giving the task of civil works to Punjab government by China it will promote the experiences of Punjab in the execution of such projects as well as its confidence with regard to mega projects in construction sector. He said by utilising its technology, such projects could be implemented in other cities.
Sharif further said that China Railway and NORINCO can subcontract electrical and mechanical works to Pakistani companies. He said Pak-China friendship based on mutual love and brotherhood and this friendship is spreading towards every corner of the country. He said China is such a sincere friend of Pakistan which wants progress and prosperity of the country. The chief minister said China has extended all out cooperation for the progress of Pakistan. He said that the journey of friendship and cooperation between the two countries is continuing successfully and is reaching every part of Pakistan.