SC summons secretary transport, finance in Orange Line Metro case

ISLAMABAD: Hearing the case related to delay in completion of the Orange Line Metro Train project, the Supreme Court (SC) Justice Azmat Saeed on Tuesday remarked that the said work on the project should not stop because of funds, ARY News reported.

A three member bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday took up the case.

Observing the delay in the completion work, Justice Azmat Saeed warned that the matter can be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as the company failed to fulfill its deadline.

“The company assured the completion of the project by April 15”, he continued.

Later the court, after summoning secretary transport and finance adjourned the further hearing into the case till Friday.

Read more: Chief justice directs for timely completion of Orange Line Metro Project in Lahore

The Orange line will span 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground. The line will be served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passenger daily.

Though it is frequently mentioned as a part of the wider China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Orange line is being financed by the Government of Punjab.

The 27-kilometer metro train is expected to cost $1.6 billion,out of which $300 million would come from the Federal Government of Pakistan, the rest is financed through soft loans by the Government of China.