LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Orange Train Line Project will bring revolutionary change to
commuters and more than 250,000 passengers will daily travel by the train initially.
Addressing the function in connection with project in Lahore on Monday, he said the project is a gift for Pakistani people by China.
He said the projects between Pakistan and China will ensure progress and prosperity among the people of both the countries. He thanked
President and Prime Minister of China for satisfaction over Punjab regarding Orange Line train project.
Under the agreement, Exim Bank of China will provide funds of 162 billion rupees on soft terms for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train
Project. Federal Secretary Economic Affairs Tariq Bajwa and Vice President of Exim Bank Sun Ping signed the documents. Federal Minister
for Finance Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, Charge d affaires of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Pakistani
Ambassador in China Khalid Masood, Provincial Minister Finance Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Provincial Ministers, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary,
prominent industrialists, bankers, intellectuals, columnists and senior officers of federal and provincial institutions were present on
the occasion.
Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that today is an important juncture in the friendship between China and Pakistan as an agreement
is being signed for the provision of funds for orange line metro train project. He said that the splendid project of Lahore Orange Line Metro
Train is an invaluable gift of Chinese government and leadership for 18 crore people of Pakistan. He said that this project reflects the
full confidence of Chinese leadership in Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the love for people of Pakistan.
He said that today is a historic day towards provision of a most modern transport system in Pakistan and metro train project is a
unique and the first project in the history of Pakistan. He said that this project is a milestone in Pak-China friendship. He said that
Pakistan and China are great friends and in the glorious examples of the friendship between the two countries will be written in golden
letters.
However, he said that the process of close economic cooperation between the two countries started two and a half years ago is
spreading to every corner of Pakistan. He said that by extending help to Pakistan in the hour of need, China has proved to be reliable and
sincere friend of Pakistan and credit for taking Pak-China friendship to new heights goes to the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif.
The Chief Minister said that the project of orange line metro train is an important step towards modern transport system and work has been
started expeditiously on the civil works of this unique project in the history of the country. Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the people of
Pakistan over signing of agreements for the provision of funds for the historic project of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train and said that after
completion of this project, 2.5 lakh people will travel by metro train daily and their number will gradually increase.
He said that this project is not of Lahore or Punjab but of the whole country. He said that under the agreement, the project will be
completed during 27 months but every effort will be made for its completion within 24 months and the verbal commitment has been made
with Chinese authorities in this regard. He further said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is also important in this respect that
it will result in transfer of Chinese technology to Pakistan and creation of lakhs of job opportunities.
He said that the agreements signed between governments in the Chinese history, Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is the first project
the civil works of which has been given to the other government. He said that this extraordinary and historic step of China is
unprecedented.
The Chief Minister said that due to this decision of China, the civil works of the project are being carried out by Punjab government which
reflects the confidence of China in the abilities and capabilities of Pakistanis construction companies. He said that due to giving the task
of civil works to Punjab government by China it will promote the experiences of Punjab in the execution of such projects as well as its
confidence with regard to mega projects in construction sector. He said that by utilizing its technology, such projects could be
implemented in other cities.
Shehbaz Sharif further said that China Railway and NORINCO can subcontract electrical and mechanical works to Pakistani companies. He
said that Pak-China friendship based on mutual love and brotherhood and this friendship is spreading towards every corner of the country.
He said that China is such a sincere friend of Pakistan which wants progress and prosperity of the country.
The Chief Minister said that China has extended all out cooperation for the progress of Pakistan. He said that the journey of friendship
and cooperation between the two countries is continuing successfully and is reaching every part of Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif said that under
China Pakistan Economic Corridor, China is making an investment of 46 billion dollars in Pakistan and out of which, 36 billion dollars are
being spent only on energy projects. He said that people of Pakistan can never forget the close friendship and economic cooperation of
China.
He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang have given a number of gifts to Pakistan out of which CPEC
project and Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project are unique. He said that these projects will always be remembered as living examples of
China-Pakistan friendship.
He said that metro train project will play an important role in the promotion of Pak-China ties. He said that Chinese President and Prime
Minister have stated that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is a gift of China to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and people of
Pakistan and Lahore and Pakistan deeply appreciate this glorious vision of Chinese leadership.
Shehbaz Sharif said that with regard to the cost, Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is the biggest project of Punjab and China has
provided funds for the project on extremely soft terms. He said that the agreement of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project was signed in
May last year and the reason for delay in the project is the sit-ins of last year. He said it is a fact that sit-ins and protest politics
of six months last year undermined not only this historic project but also caused delay other development projects.
He said had the precious time of the nation not been wasted due to the sit-ins of six months, the civil works of this projects would have
been completed to a great extent.
The Chief Minister appealed to media to point out flaws and shortcoming of the government, however, we should also reprimand such
elements as have caused delay in Lahore Orange Line Metro Train and other development projects due to useless sit-ins. He said that time
wasted will have to be made up through honesty and hard work and the development projects will have to be completed timely for coming up to
the expectations of the masses.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project is the result of the tireless efforts and hard work of Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, his team as well as China Railway and NORINCO Company. He also thanked federal government for its cooperation and
the entire team of Punjab government, Chief Secretary, Managing Director Punjab Metro Bus Authority, Kh. Ahmed Hasaan, Provincial
Ministers, Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalid Masood, Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and all concerned authorities for their cooperation.