By a staf reporter
LAHORE, July 15: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here on Friday between the Punjab government and China’s North Industrial Corporation (NORINCO) to undertake the Lahore Mass Transit Project from Aug 14.
Under the agreement, a 27km long railway track will be laid from Gaju Matta on Ferozepur Road to Shahdara of which 7-km long portion will be underground.
Lahore Transport Company (LTC) chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and NORINCO vice-president Zhang Shiping signed the MoU on behalf of the Punjab government and Chinese company, respectively.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, MPA Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad and LTC and NORINCO officials were present.
The chief minister welcomed the agreement, saying soft opening of the project would be made on Aug 14. He said the Chinese company by announcing that it would not take even a single penny as profit proved that China was a true and sincere friend of Pakistan. He said that the project would be an invaluable gift by the Chinese government for the people of Lahore, the Punjab province and Pakistan.
He said that NORINCO was a renowned company which had executed numerous projects of human development and prosperity and also set up metro systems. He said that thousands of people were benefiting from the mass transit projects executed by the company in Beijing, Shanghai and Tehran. He said the Lahore Mass Transit Project would be completed in four years.
He said that a number of agreements, including the mass transit, were signed between the Punjab government and Chinese companies for cooperation in various sectors during his recent visit to China.
To a question, he said politicians and rulers had not come up to the expectations of the masses during past 63 years. While the elite enjoyed all facilities, the poor and the common man were deprived of even basic amenities, he added.
He said the Punjab government had diverted resources to the welfare of the people and all available funds were being utilised in a transparent manner on the provision of basic facilities to the people.
“People have elected us and we are their servants and not the rulers and every penny of public money is being spent on the betterment of the masses in a transparent manner.” He said the country was facing terrorism and a number of other problems but the nation would come out of these crises and achieve the goal of progress and prosperity.
To a question about the possibility of rollback of wel fare projects by the future governments, the chief minister said that Daanish schools, Aashiayna housing project, supply of free medicines and mobile health units were such welfare-oriented projects that no one could rollback and if anyone tried to do so, he would be taken to task by the masses.
Mr. Shiping said that Pakistan and China were bound together in unswerving ties of friendship and the Lahore Mass Transit Project would usher in a new era of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
He said that the project would reflect Pak-China friendship and NORINCO would not take any profit from the project. He said that Export-Import Bank of China (Exim) would finance the project.
He said that he had held talks with officials of the LTC and other departments during last two weeks and had an excellent working relationship with them.
He said that Chief Minister Sharif had taken personal interest in the project which would result in provision of modern transport facilities to the masses.
He said the Lahore Mass Transit Project would be completed in four years and Chinese company would also provide technology to the Punjab government in this regard. He said the project was a precious gift by the people of China for the people of Punjab.
Source : Dawn News
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