Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday presided over a meeting held to review progress on Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) Project in the provincial metropolis.
Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Assembly Members, Chairman Planning & Development, secretaries of Transport and Housing departments, District Coordination Officer Lahore, Director General LDA and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that BRTS has been designed keeping in view the requirements of the 21st century which will provide a rapid, economical and organised public transport system to the people. He said that after motorway, this is another gift of Pakistan Muslim League-N to the people and every commuter will benefit from it.
He said that the people will get rid of problems of traditional public transport after BRTS was launched. He said that keeping in view the public importance of this project, the work on BRTS would continue round the clock without any holiday so that this project could be completed and made operational at the earliest.
The chief minister said that public transport system was the identity of the cities. He said that due to its advantages, BRTS would give a new identity and enhance the prestige of Lahore and a new transport culture of international standard would be promoted. Shahbaz said that instead of obsolete ticketing system, most modern electronic ticketing system would be introduced for BRTS. He disclosed that a project management unit would be set up in Punjab Information Technology Board for this purpose. He directed that special attention should also be paid on capacity building of the officials for getting desired results from the public welfare projects initiated by the provincial government.
Shahbaz said that the co-operation of Turkey in infrastructure development projects in the province is commendable. He said that Daanish Technical University would be set up in Lahore with the collaboration of Middle East Technical University of Turkey. He said that the campus of this university would be set up in Arfa Kareem Software Technology Park and high quality education would be provided to the students in the fields of emerging sciences. He directed that an organised plan be evolved with regard to use of 100 modern buses being received from Turkey. He said that this gift of Turkish government reflects their sincere love with Pakistani people. He said that Pakistan and Turkey were two important countries of Islamic world and their economic relations were strengthening.
Shahbaz directed to ensure smooth and organised flow of traffic in other roads of Lahore including Ferozepur road. He also directed that special attention should be paid on the necessary repair of footpaths and cleanliness of roads and there should be no dust on the roads.
He directed that the development work on Allama Iqbal Road be completed at the earliest to provide relief to the commuters. He said that besides evolving a comprehensive policy regarding modern parking stands, suitable pieces of land be identified for new graveyards in Lahore. District Coordination Officer Lahore said that a 10-year plan has been evolved for setting up of new graveyards in the provincial metropolis.