From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) at Dera Gujran depot, on Sunday.
Chinese Consul General Mr Long Ding Bin, Provincial Transport Minister Jahanzaib Kichchi, Managing Director Punjab Mass Transit Authority Sibtain Fazal Haleem of CR Norinko authorities were also present.
The inaugural ceremony of OLMT was also held in Beijing, which was attended by authorities of National Development Reforms Commission, CR Norinko and top Chinese officials. The ceremony was broadcast live through video-link. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar unveiled the plaque and prayed.
Later, the chief minister, along with Chinese consul general, formally inaugurated the OLMT by pressing a button. Usman Buzdar, while addressing the ceremony, said that on the occasion he thanked China on behalf of the people and government of Punjab.
The ties between both countries were six decades old and have strengthened with the passage of time despite the notable changes on the world landscape, he said.
Undoubtedly, Pak-China friendship was deeper than the sea, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel, he added. He said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was the height of Pak-China friendship, adding that its success would start new era of development and prosperity which would further strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries. He said the OLMT had been inaugurated for providing international standard transport facilities to citizens.
The CM said that the project would not only ensure stabilisation in urban development but also become a factor in enhancing the GDP.
He said that the PTI government had set a new political tradition by successfully completing the projects of the previous governments and did not let any project become a victimization of political biases as projects like Wazirabad Cardiology Institute and new building for the Punjab Assembly were an example of the political maturity.
He said that by rising above the political rivalry, the PTI government was also working on completion of the collapsed projects of previous governments worth Rs 1115 billion.
He said that in order to operate the OLMT project successfully, transparency has been ensured in the tendering of operational and maintenance besides saving nation’s billions of rupees. He added that the Punjab government, despite limited resources and economic situation occurred due to Covid-19 virus pandemic, was also giving subsidy of billions of rupees annually to ply the Orange Line train.
