Wattoo says people, civil society members are against the Orange Line project
People and members of the civil society have been protesting against Orange Metro Train for being the pinnacle of the wrong priorities of the Punjab government but sadly to no avail because the government’s juggernaut to execute the project is continuing unabated, said PPP Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo on Wednesday.
In a statement released by the PPP leader, he pointed out that it was obligatory to adhere to the Antiquities Act which stipulated that no project should be approved without securing the archeological heritage of the province in absolute terms.
He demanded that the Punjab Government must not pursue this project at the cost of the rich archeological heritage like GPO, Shalimar Gardens, Chuburji and places of religious importance; instead, the government should ensure their preservation. He said that failing to do so would invite the wrath of not only the Pakistani people but also the international community because some of architectures were on the list of international heritage.
He also demanded that the grievances of other people being affected by the projects must be addressed and urged the government to rehabilitate them and take them into confidence. “They are poor people and cannot afford the financial losses due to the resultant dislocation,” he added.
