LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated the first set of bogies of the Lahore Orange Line metro train.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister warned those who attempted to create obstacles in the mega project, saying that people should identify those who stopped the welfare of the people.
“People should identify those attempted to halt the development of the country,” he said adding that petitions were filled against the project and stay orders on construction near eleven heritage sites, but stated that they will respect the decision of the courts over the matter.
He said the Orange Line Project will provide modern, safe, swift and affordable transport facilities to commuters after its completion and 250,000 people will travel daily in the metropolis. He said that a distance of 27-kilometers from Darogawala to Thokar Niaz Baig will be covered in just forty-five minutes.
He pointed out that despite the conspiracies against the development projects, the journey of progress and prosperity will continue successfully.
“Orange Line project is a gift from China,” he said adding that the similar project was inaugurated over two centuries ago in London, and has not been undertaken in the seven decades history of Pakistan.
“This is the first project in seventy year history of Pakistan,” he said. “The eyes of Lahore residents and the rest of Pakistan are on the Orange Line project.”
Shahbaz also used the opportunity at his political opponents taking veiled jibes at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, who he said is misguided the youth on the wrong track through unfounded accusation and speeches.
“The youth are been led on the wrong path,” he said. “These baseless accusation, speeches are wasting the time of the people.”
“There is no better project transport project in the country,” he said adding the project will be subsidised for the benefit of the people.
Shahbaz Sharif said he would have developed metro bus projects in Peshawar if the PML-N had its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as other cities such as Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat.
“These handful of so-called intelligentsia and PTI attempted to stop this mega project,” he said and those raising slogans of change itself placed obstacles in the path of development.
“Those who waived loans worth billions are opposing the Orange Line. Those who bankrupted through rental power projects are opposing,” he said.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the metro bus which has not started in Peshawar is being built at cost Rs44 billion, while the Lahore project cost Rs30bn.
“The opponents think that if Orange Line is completed in 2018 then people will vote for the PML-N,” he said adding the people of Lahore will be the project in mind during the next general elections.
“If public projects are halted then there will be a bloody revolution,” he said adding that the only way to stop it is bring the Orange Line. “I have put all my efforts on the projects.”
