Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Lahore Orange Line Train is a splendid project for the provision of modern, respectable and safe transport facility to the citizens.
The chief minister was talking to senior journalists, columnists and TV anchors during a meeting on Sunday. He personally gave a briefing on some important aspects of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.
He said that Rs 76 billion have been saved through negotiations after the completion of tenders, which is unprecedented in the history of the country. He said that tendering process is frozen after agreement at G to G level but Punjab government has still been able to complete tendering in this G to G level project.
He said that Exim Bank of China has funded Lahore Orange Line Train project, adding that modern, speedy, affordable and quality transport facilities are the right of the poor people. He said that Lahore Orange Line Train project is for poor masses and such projects are necessary to minimise the gap between the rich and the poor. He said that there is a need to implement the welfare projects for the common man in order to prevent a bloody revolution.
The chief minister said that the elements criticising public welfare projects have no interest in progress and development of the people. He said that those who were claiming that 70 billion rupees have been spent on Lahore Metro Bus project have not been able to present any evidence to back their claim.
“I have repeatedly said that Lahore Metro Bus project has cost Rs 30 billion and that I will be accountable if even a cost of Rs 35 billion is proved. Imran Khan has not been able to prove that a sum of Rs 70 billion has been spent on metro bus; therefore, paying attention to his allegations is a waste of time,” Sharif said.
He said that it is an injustice that while elite, policy-makers and government officers travel by modern vehicles, the poor people have no option but to travel by dilapidated buses. Shehbaz Sharif said that hundreds of thousands of people are reaching their destination on time through metro buses daily.
He said that the budget of health, education and other social sectors will not be affected as China has made hundred per cent funding for Orange Line Metro Train Project
He said that Punjab government is attaching top priority to the improvement of social sectors and provision of best services to the masses, adding that the budget for education sector has been increased by 20 per cent in the current financial year.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the biggest health budget has been presented in the history of the province while billions of rupees are being spent on a project to supply water to the masses. He said that a huge sum of 150 billion rupees is being spent on the repair and rehabilitation of farm to market roads.
Media should help govt improve performance:
Shehbaz Sharif said that it is responsibility of media to point out the shortcomings of the government so they can be overcome, and also highlight government’s measures for the welfare of the masses. He said that promotion of public awareness with regard to the welfare projects is the national responsibility of media.
Mass Transit Authority Chairman Sibtain Fazal Haleem, while giving background and important features of Orange Line Metro Train Project, informed that the track of the orange line train will not endanger any historical building.
