Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of modern transport facilities to the people is among the top priorities of the government hence an affordable, comfortable and air-conditioned CNG bus service has been launched in the provincial metropolis.
He said that a network of public transport would be spread in the whole province and provision of modern public transport to the masses in Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Dera Ghazi Khan and other big cities will be ensured. While addressing the inaugural ceremony of air-conditioned CNG urban bus service at Model Town, here on Tuesday he said that though millions and billions of rupees were minted by the former rulers in the name of subsidy however, nothing but smoke-emitting and ramshackle buses were given to the masses.
On the contrary, he said, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has honoured its promise of providing a cheap and comfortable bus service to the masses. He said that all senior citizens above the age of 65 years would have free travelling facility in these buses.
Provincial Ministers, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies, senior officers, intellectuals, columnists, artistes, representatives of Chinese bus company Foton as well as a large number of students were present. Addressing the ceremony the Chief Minister said that today is a momentous occasion for the people of Punjab. He said that a well-organised public transport system was introduced by PML-N government in 1998 first time in the history of the country and an agreement was signed with Daewoo bus service but when the first batch of fifty buses arrived in Pakistan, the democratic government was toppled.
He said that an excellent public transport system has been launched for the people of the province again after 12 years. He said that bus culture would have to be promoted for the elimination of traffic jams and environmental pollution from the city. He said that public transport plays an important role in national development. He said that it would be useless to build flyovers and execute communication projects if the poor, labourers, doctors, intellectuals and students have to wait for hours for public transport, while expensive and swanky cars pass through modern infrastructure. He questioned will it be the Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that air-conditioned CNG bus service comprising 110 buses has been started from Ferozpur Road, while an agreement has also been reached for another 200 buses. Moreover, he said, Punjab government has decided to bring 700 buses for providing transport facility in various cities of the province.
He said that the new system of transport would be clean, comfortable and efficient. He said that the plight of PIA and Railways is well known to everyone, as people have to wait for hours for their flights and trains. He said that reforms will have to be introduced, while honesty and sincerity will have to be adopted in all sectors for making Pakistan a strong and robust country. He said that under the present situation when terrorism and corruption is rampant in the country, foreign investment in transport sector in Punjab reflects the confidence of foreign entrepreneurs in Punjab government.
He expressed gratitude to the Chinese companies Foton and Busco for extending cooperation in the provision of most modern transport facilities to the people of Punjab. Chairman Lahore Transport Company Kh. Ahmad Hasaan while addressing the ceremony said that provision of modern transport facilities to the masses was a longstanding dream of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, which has been translated into reality. He said that it is a proof of the commitment of Chief Minister Punjab that he set up a separate transport company for providing high standard transport facilities to the people and the company dealt with all matters in a transparent manner. He said that people of Lahore would feel a pleasant change due to this project. Vice President of Foton, which is the biggest producer of commercial vehicles in China, Xong Criss said that all credit goes to Chief Minister Punjab for the provision of new buses to the people. Chief Executive Officer of Busco also spoke on the occasion.