Hands over 64 new environment-friendly buses to Lahore metro bus service
Directing to accelerate pace of work on ongoing development projects, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday said that completion of more than 15,500 projects in three years is commendable.
“As many as 3,975 development schemes will be completed in the current financial year, 95 percent of which have already been approved to ensure timely completion.”
Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was speaking during a meeting at P&D Board held to review progress on ADP 2021-22. The Chairman P&D briefed that Rs241 billion have been released under the current ADP to ensure timely completion of projects.
The chief minister underscored that timely utilization of released funds should be ensured by accelerating the pace of work.
“The secretaries should regularly review the pace of progress while the officials concerned should conduct on-ground inspection.”
The CM emphasized that no compromise will be made on quality and transparency, adding that good performers will be supported by the government while poor performers will have to be answerable for their slackness.
“The fruits of ADP worth amounting to Rs560 billion should be devolved to the people as 35 percent ring-fenced funds have been allocated for south Punjab.” The CM declared that the draft of the Punjab monitoring and evaluation policy will be approved by the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar inaugurated a fleet of 64 new environment-friendly buses for the Lahore metro bus service at metro bus depot Ferozepur Road on Monday. He formally handed over buses to Punjab Masstrasit Authority and inspected the facilities after unveiling the plague.
On the occasion, the CM repeated that the provincial capital and Lahorits have significant importance while the government has been striving hard to resolve their problems on a priority basis.
“Underpasses and overhead bridges Are being constructed to overcome traffic problems besides improving the transport system,” he continued and added that the 18-meter long bus will prove the best transport facility and the Lahore Masstransit Authority will provide best travelling facility to 1.25 lakh passengers on daily basis.
The PTI-led government has saved resources worth more than 2 billion rupees in contract with VEDA. The earlier deal was signed with a foreign company while the current contract is signed with a Pakistani company to save foreign reserves while encouraging local businesses, he appended.
The incumbent government completed and functionalized the orange line metro train project in the best national interest, he said and added that its fare is limited to Rs.40. Around 6.3 billion rupees subsidy was also being given to this project despite financial crunch, he maintained.
The CM disclosed that an electric buses project will be started in Lahore to overcome environmental pollution and new environmentally friendly buses will also be introduced in major cities of the province. There was a shortage of passengers in feeder buses but the introduction of the cash fare system has resulted in a hundred percent and 26 percent increase in the number of commuters.
in Lahore and Multan feeder buses, respectively.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to CM on Information Hasaan Khawar called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The CM extended good wishes to him and gave guidelines for the projection of welfare-oriented projects at every forum. An environment of ease and facilitation has been ensured by introducing holistic reforms because providing relief to the general public is a priority agenda, he stated.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting to review the elevated expressway project. Provincial ministers Mian Aslam Iqbal, Asad Khokhar, DG LDA and others attended the meeting.
The CM gave in-principle approval to construct an elevated expressway from Gulberg to motorway M2. This expressway will cover Canal Bank Road, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, Multan Road, Bund Road to Babu Sabu and a bus passageway will also be constructed alongside.
