Yellow Cab Scheme is being started from October in Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that government is implementing various programmes for the empowerment and provision of employment opportunities to the youth.  He said that Yellow Cab Scheme is being started from October this year under which 50 thousand vehicles will be given to the unemployed youth on soft terms.

He was presiding over a high level meeting here today which reviewed various proposals for the launching of Yellow Cab Scheme under Self-Employment Programme. Assembly Members Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Sheikh Alauddin, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, President Bank of Punjab, Secretaries of Finance and Information departments, Managing Director Suzuki Company and concerned officials were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that a transparent and computerized system will be adopted for the distribution of vehicles under Yellow Cab Scheme and the government will also give subsidy on these vehicles. He said that youth are an asset of the nation and they are being empowered through provision of employment opportunities. Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has initiated several programmes for the empowerment of youth and soft-term loans are being given to them under Self- Employment Programme for setting up their own business and thousands of youth have benefitted from this revolutionary programme.

Meanwhile,Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Punjab Metro Bus Authority here today which approved its budget for the year 2014-15. The meeting also gave approval to the purchase of 68 buses for Rawalpindi Islamabad metro bus project besides necessary measures with regard to orange line metro train project. Chairman Lahore Transport Company Kh. Ahmed Hassaan, Assembly Members Waheed Alam Khan, Malik Ibrar Ahmed, Kh. Imran Nazir, Ramzan Siddique Bhatti, Hanif Abbasi, Hafiz Mian Nauman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chairman Planning & Development and concerned officers were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government is implementing a revolutionary programme for the provision of safe, comfortable and economical travelling facilities to the masses. He said that effective measures have been taken for the improvement of transport system. He said that about one lakh 75 thousand people are benefitting daily from the splendid project of Lahore metro bus which has also given a new identity to the provincial metropolis. He said that orange line metro train project is also being launched which will not only provide modern travelling facilities to the citizens but the transport culture will also be revolutionized. He said that feasibility study of purple line metro train and blue line metro train will also be conducted.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project will be completed during the current year which will result in provision of speedy transport facilities to the people of the twin cities. He said that foundation stone of metro bus project in Multan will be laid on August 14. He said that the measures taken by the government for the improvement of transport system has yielded positive results. Managing Director Punjab Metro Bus Authority gave a detailed briefing to the meeting.