Metro bus project would be completed by December:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the work on metro bus project is continuing round the clock and it is hoped that this project this year. He said metro bus project is a unique and splendid development project in the transport history of Pakistan. He said the fare of this bus service would be within the reach of the common man, while, during first four weeks, the citizens would be able to travel free of cost. He said the expeditious completion of this project is due to well-coordinated strategy adopted by concerned departments.

Shahbaz Sharif expressed these views while talking to a representative delegation of Turkish Company (OLASIM), here today. During the meeting, detailed exchange of views took place about the operational matters and development work being carried on metro bus service project. He said that concerned departments and contractors have been issued orders to continue construction work on the project even during Eid holidays, for which the labourers working during the Eid holidays would be extended special incentives while services of non-Muslim labourers would also be hired. He said that temporary difficulties being faced by the citizens would soon be converted into permanent relief. He said that Punjab government would also extend subsidy to provide quality and modern travelling facilities to the masses. He said toilets on route of metro bus service are also being constructed while the master trainers of Turkish company would come to Lahore to impart training to Pakistan drivers. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that, if people gave the chance of serving them in future as well, metro bus service would also be launched in other big cities of the province. He said that cooperation of Turkish leadership, especially President Abdullah Gull, Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan and Mayor Istambul, Kadir Topbas, in completion of the metro bus project is highly praiseworthy.

The members of the Turkish delegation informed the Chief Minister that they are satisfied with the pace of work on metro bus project and hoped, that the project would be completed by December this year. The Turkish delegation said that due to personal interest of the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the public transport system is being completely transformed, while the kind of attention that was needed to meet the traffic needs of the second biggest city of the country is being given by the present government. They said the provincial metropolis is changing during the era of Shahbaz Sharif. They said that only a few big countries of the world have the facility of metro bus service and with the launching of this service in Punjab, the traditional concept of public transport would completely be changed and it would bring about a significant transformation in the travelling style of the general public. They said that the efforts of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for the progress and prosperity of the Punjab are highly laudable. The members of the Turkish delegation included Ilyas Albayrak, Busra Buran, Abdullah Ozcanli, Tariq Dundar, Sahin Erdogan and Saadi Yildarir. Project Director Metro Bus Sibtain Fazal Haleem was also present on the occasion.