LAHORE: Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) is a project of the whole nation. The delay in the project will be compensated through hard work, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday. He said this during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, who called on him at the Punjab House Islamabad. “The project it will be completed with national zeal and. Let bygones be bygones. It is the time to think of the future and the project should be implemented in a speedy manner because this gigantic project of public interest has been delayed. The political elements, due to which delay occurred, have no concern with the welfare of the laymen. We have started this project for the masses and after getting permission from the Supreme Court, the project has to be completed as early as possible with renewed commitment, passion and hard work. Bigger the challenge, the more hard work has to be put in,” he added. “The Orange Line Metro Train Project is a milestone initiative in the transport sector and the ordinary people will enjoy honorable, secure and durable traveling facilities after the completion of this project,” he said. The CM said that work would continue 24-hours on the project. “Effective safety measures should be ensured for the workers and technicians working on this project,” he said. The Chinese ambassador congratulated Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif over the permission to continue work on Lahore Orange Line Metro Train and added that the court’s verdict for continuing work on the metro train was welcome. He assured of every possible cooperation for early completion of the project adding that Chinese companies working on this venture would make organised efforts to complete their assignments as soon as possible. “You have worked tremendously hard for the project and this will be a masterpiece of Pak-China friendship,” he added. The Chinese ambassador also appreciated the good governance initiatives and a passion to complete the projects of national development and added that you are a bright star of Punjab’s development that had proved his mettle by completing development projects before the schedule despite difficulties. “This project is a gift to the people of Pakistan from the president and PM of China,” the CM said, adding that the Chinese leadership had fully supported the project despite hurdles. He thanked the Chinese leadership as well as the government and added that government was trying to early complete the project by working day and night over it. He said that Pak-China enduring friendship, close cooperation and a passion of selflessness are an example for the whole world and immortal friendship of both the countries is further expanding with the passage of time. He said that CPEC, which was a mega project of bringing economic resolution, would prove to be a harbinger of economic prosperity for all the countries of the region. CM pays tribute to martyred soldiers: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the incident of firing at the vehicle of security forces in North Waziristan and expressed a deep sense of grief over the death of 2nd Lt Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat who embraced martyrdom. He extended sympathies to the heirs of the martyrs and paid rich tributes to their bravery. He said that Abdul Moeed and Basharat had given their blood for the protection of motherland and the whole nation is proud of their bravery and valor. “They have set a glowing example by sacrificing their lives for a peaceful future of the country. The nation salutes their great sacrifices,” he said. Published in Daily Times, December 13th 2017.