Daily Times

A meeting was held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman to review the matters regarding maintenance and operational contract of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train at CM Office.

The meeting also considered proposals about fare of the train. Secretary Transport gave the briefing regarding maintenance and operational contract and other matters related to the project.

The Chief Minister while addressing the meeting said that fare of the train should be kept in the reach of the common man. Final approval of the fare will be given in Punjab Cabinet meeting. Chief Minister directed to make the project operational as soon as possible for the citizen and said that repair and construction work of the roads under the track should be completed at the earliest besides taking prompt measures to solve the traffic issues. Full attention should be paid on traffic management for the redressal of people grievances.

The Chief Minister was informed that 26 stations have been established on 27.1 km long route and approximately 2.45 lakh passengers will travel on 27 sets of train on daily basis. He was further informed that travel time from Dera Gujran to Ali Town will be 45 minutes. The meeting was also informed that safety tests of train are being conducted successfully. The participants of the meeting gave their suggestions regarding the fare. Provincial Minister for Law Raja Basharat, Provincial Minister for Transport Jehanzeb Khan Khichi, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, MD Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Secretaries of Transport and Finance Department and concerned authorities were present on this occasion.

Meanwhile, talking to provincial ministers and MPAs, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said that Punjab would be the hub of trade and economic activities in this year. He said that 10 special economic zones, to be set up in different areas, would change the destiny of the people. The SEZs of Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur would help to improve the conditions of these areas and people would get relief. The government is intended to provide best facilities to the people and the philosophy of composite development is being ensured, he added. Those who called on the chief minister included provincial ministers Dr Akhtar Malik, Saeed-ul-Hassan Shah, Sardar Asif Nakai, Malik Asad Khokhar, Col. (Retd.) Muhammad Anwar, Syed Sumsam Bukhari, Ajmal Cheema and MPAs namely Sardar Talib Nakai, Sardar Sibtain Khan, Malik Saleem Labar, Nazir Ahmed Chohan, Iftikhar Hussain Gondal, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, Abida Raja, Khayal Ahmed Kastro, Farhat Farooq and others.

Separately, people belonging to different districts called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office and apprised him about their problems. Usman Buzdar issued directions for the solution of their complaints and visitors thanked him for being a chief minister of the people. You are the first chief minister who provided access to your office while the doors of CM Office were closed to the general public in the past. Usman Buzdar said that his relationship with the people is stronger than before adding that PTI government is rectifying the past mistakes. The country was deviated from its destination due to misleading polices of past rulers and resources were wasted on exhibitory projects, he added. He regretted that the past rulers totally ignored the basic problems of the people. The people cried for even the basic necessities of life while the rulers continued to enjoy the luxuries of power. The chief minister said that the incumbent government has focused on the solution of citizen’s problems and the government believes in holistic development. He made it clear that there is no room for the corrupt in Punjab. The country lagged due to the corrupt, he added. The PTI government has lodged a vigorous struggle against corruption and the new Pakistan belongs to the masses.

The chief minister said that development schemes of backward areas are being monitored by him and he regularly meets with the people to help solve their problems. Hindrance will not be allowed in the solution of genuine problems of the people, he added. The government has set a new example by introducing reforms in a short period as it believes in performance than slogan-mongering, the chief minister concluded.

Separately, Usman Buzdar expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the loss of precious human lives due to fire in the Mochi Gate go-down.

He directed to investigate the incident and sought a report from the Commissioner. He also directed the administration to provide best treatment facilities to the injured.