Pakistan - Punjab: Public transport system being made comfortable

LAHORE (PPI): Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that public transport system is being improved for providing modern, standardized and comfortable transport facilities to the people and for this purpose, Lahore Transport Company has been set up while similar transport companies would also be established in other major cities on the same pattern. He said that provision of better transport facilities to the people was our dream which is being materialized on Sunday after signing of an agreement with Chinese company for providing buses. He said that project of provision of better transport facilities to the masses is being launched from Lahore and in this regard a bus service has been inaugurated. Later, its scope would be expanded to other cities including Rawalpindi, Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Sialkot, he added. He said that the underground Metro Train Project in Lahore would be completed with the consultation and cooperation of Iran and China. He expressed these views while addressing the ceremony of signing of an agreement between the Chinese company and Punjab government regarding provision of buses by a Chinese Company Yunma Aircraft, at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here today. On behalf of Punjab government, Secretary Transport and representative of Chinese company signed the agreement. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister for Finance Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Minister for Transport Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chief Secretary, Secretary Transport, representative of Chinese company and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister said that the agreement of cooperation in public transport between China and Punjab government is of paramount importance and a proof of mutual confidence between the two countries. He said that under the project of provision of better transport, initially 53 buses will start operating on the roads of Lahore today while 2000 buses would be operated in the city under different phases, out of which, 1000 buses would be air-conditioned so that common man should realize that he has as much right over the resources as that of privilege class. He said that Chinese company will not only provide buses, but will also operate these buses itself while Punjab government would provide 25 percent subsidy and every possible cooperation would be extended for the success of this project. He said that China is a great friend of Pakistan and deep rooted relations are present between the two counties. He said that the agreement regarding public transport between Punjab government and Chinese company would play an important role in further strengthening the ties between both the countries. He said that these buses would had been started operating on the roads of Lahore a long time ago but unfortunately due to Governor's rule in the province, this project was delayed. He said that due to the efforts of Provincial Minister for Transport, Chief Secretary, Secretary Transport and the whole team, we have succeeded for practical implementation of the project. He said that under this project, CNG air-conditioned buses would be operated in big cities of Punjab through Public Private Partnership and Punjab government will provide 25 percent subsidy to the private transporters for importing these buses. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that a comprehensive system has been evolved for providing better transport facilities to the people in the big cities of the province and for this purpose negotiations with nine different international companies are underway. He said that nations move ahead with hardworking, dedication and passion and we have made public service as our mission and will achieve our goal with honesty, hard work and team work.