Former Chief Minister Punjab and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Q (PML-Q), Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Saturday the Punjab rulers have jeopardised the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS), causing colossal loss to the national economy on false pretext to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In a press conference, he said the Sharif government has written a letter to the ADB, pleading the absence of investment climate in the province therefore, no need of $6 million likely to be extended by the ADB for the feasibility study of the project.
It may be noted that the LRMTS was initiated back in late 90s, passing through may topsy-turvy phases till date when the initiators of the project have finally abandoned it once and for all. He said the Punjab government was likely to get $1 billion from a consortium for the LRMTS, which could not be materialised to myopic and stubborn approach of the present rulers of the Punjab.
He said such actions negate tall claims made by the Sharif brothers on the development front. According to him, the project was a purely public welfare project to be completed by 2012, facilitating 35000 citizen daily. It was likely to bring down the transport burden on the city. Pervaiz Elahi said the Green Line project, worth $2.4 billion coming from both the ADB consortium and the Punjab government has been put on backburner.
The international experts have termed it a profitable project comparing with the Motorway project, which is not only a faulty but also running on 10 percent below capacity. He said the Daewoo Company chairman has conceded in front of a judicial commission in Korea that the Punjab government had sought huge commission for approval of the Motorway project.
Pervaiz Elahi said the Punjab rulers have also halted the construction of the UAE-sponsored $2 billion construction Abu Dhabi Center in Lahore, which again is negation of the development of the city. He said the inability of the Punjab rulers has shelved a public interest project, which is a matter of concern for the whole nation. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also highlighted the important steps taken by his government on the occasion.
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