Rs 20 billion being given against land & property acquired for Orange Train:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the biggest package of history worth Rs. 20 billion has been announced for the payment of compensation to the owners of the land acquired for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project and he is personally monitoring its implementation. He said that payments are being made to the landowners by meeting all demands of justice and the interests of everyone will be safeguarded. He said that due compensation will be paid to the owners of the land besides additional amounts are also be given as compensation for the constructed building, loss to business and relocation of residence.

He was addressing a meeting through video link at Civil Secretariat today which reviewed in detail the process of payment of compensation to the affectees of Orange Line Metro Train Project.

The Chief Minister issued instructions to further accelerate the pace of payment of compensation. He said that a comprehensive system has been evolved for payment of compensation and the entire process of verification is completed immediately at one-window payment centers set up under the new system. He said that it is the best system of payment in Pakistan under which all phases of verification are completed immediately for payment of compensation.

The Chief Minister said that only enemies to the development of Pakistan are opposing this splendid project of public welfare but they will be disappointed as they are hindering the process of prosperity of the country only for the achievement of their personal interests.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the elements criticizing this biggest project of Pakistan are in fact enemies of the common man and the development of the country. He said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Project will prove to be a milestone in the provision of the best travelling facilities to the common man and the masses will avail respectable transport facilities of international standard through this project. He said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will be unique with regard to transparency and standard like metro bus and other projects.

The Chief Minister directed that ministers, assembly members and administrative officers should visit payment centers regularly while all out facilities should be provided to the landowners coming to these centers. He appreciated the efficiency and hard work of the political and administrative team and expressed the hope that the process of payment to the landowners will the completed within next few days.

DG LDA Ahad Cheema gave a briefing to the meeting regarding the procedure of payment of compensation to the owners of the land and the detail of payments. He said that a sum of 85 crore rupees was paid to 217 landowners on the first day. He said that special committees have been constituted for addressing complaints at payment centers and all necessary facilities are being provided to the landowners.

Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Bilal Yasin, Tanveer Aslam Malik, Advisor Kh. Salman Rafiq, MNA Pervaiz Malik, Members Provincial Assembly, Chief Secretary, MD Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Senior Member Board of Revenue, concerned Secretaries, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore and senior officials attended the meeting through video link.