Provincial Minister of Transport Ibrahim Murad inaugurated a free travel scheme for students, which includes the Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) services.
He inaugurated the scheme on Friday at the Anarkali Station of the Orange Line Metro Train. Speaking to journalists on the occasion, the minister stated that as per the special directive of the caretaker Punjab Chief Minister, the Orange Line Metro Train and Metro Bus services are now free for students starting from September 15. Students who wear uniforms and have their cards would benefit from this free travel facility, he announced. This is a significant step by the Punjab government, he remarked. The minister mentioned that the rising cost of petrol has made commuting difficult for the public, and due to the shortage of financial resources, more people were relying on public transportation. This is a mega project for the welfare of the people, and it would be further expanded, he added. Ibrahim Murad stated that nearly 8 billion rupees were allocated as subsidy for the OLMT, adding that efforts were being made to generate revenue through advertisements and sponsorships to enhance this service. “The government’s aim is to provide relief to the public and collect taxes, and we are fulfilling our duties in a responsible manner” he said and mentioned that in the future, free travel facilities would be provided to disabled individuals. This is an education-friendly initiative that will help reduce the dropout rate in educational institutions, he maintained.
