LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Exim Bank of China has announced the releasing the loan for Orange Line.
However, he said that it was jurisdiction of the court to hear the petitioner challenging the project, according to a handout.
In a TV interview, Shahbaz said that announcement of loan by the Chinese bank was an expression of confidence in the transparency of Nawaz Sharif government.
He said the critics of project want to hinder development. He said that the opponents, in fact, are making joke with the need of common persones. He said that those travelling by airplanes and luxury vehicles were unaware of public needs. He said the PTI, PPP and Q-League are opposing the poor people.
The CM said that at the end of 2017, more than two and a half lakh people will travel daily on completion of orange line metro train. He said that one and a half lakh people travel daily by metro bus.
He said that the number of passengers will further increase due to shifting of passengers of metro bus to metro train near MAO Collage.
Shahbaz said that the announcement of release of loan by Exim Bank is a clear proof to deep love of China. He said the bank gave loan on soft terms which would be repaid in 20 years and would be payable after seven years of the completion of the project at interest rate of 2.4 percent.
Separately talking to the newly-elected Mayor of Islamabad Sheikh Anser Aziz at Prime Minister’s House, Shahbaz said that local bodies system is being strengthened for activating democratic institutions at the basic level so that problems of the people could be resolved at their doorstep.
The chief minister said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government believes in public service and its aim is progress and prosperity of the country. He said that setting aside political opposition and the conspiracies of hampering development process, the PML-N government, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is speedily implementing energy, education, health, infrastructure and other public welfare projects.
Shahbaz Sharif said that instead of getting involved in confrontation, the government is paying full attention to the projects of national development, economic progress and promotion of investment.
The chief minister further said that a number of mega projects are being implemented in Punjab for public welfare and balanced development of urban and rural areas. He said that the glorious success of PML-N in local bodies’ elections reflects the confidence of the people.
He said that the pivot of all policies and planning of the government is welfare of the common man and solution of his problems. The Chief Minister congratulated Sheikh Anser Aziz on his election as mayor of Islamabad and expressed the hope that he will utilize all his abilities for the development of the federal capital.
Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz appreciated the efforts for progress and development of Punjab and said that the policies and successful projects of the chief minister are a role model for him and under his guidance, a solid strategy will be evolved for making Islamabad the most beautiful capital of the world and provision of exemplary facilities to its citizens.
He also appreciated public-friendly projects like Metro Bus and Orange Line Train. He said that Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project is providing the best transport facilities to the citizens. He also expressed determination to launch more projects on this pattern for provision of modern facilities to the citizens.
Chairman Metro Bus Project Muhammad Hanif Abbasi also called on Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and appraised him of the pace of ongoing Institute of Cardiology and other projects.
Separately, Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is on the road to progress and prosperity but some elements rejected by the people in general and local bodies elections are opposing the development projects.
The chief minister said while talking to a delegation of the PML-N. He said despite hurdles from the opponents the government is determined to go ahead with the development projects which aim at changing destiny of the common man. He said that public welfare projects are being implemented with speed, standard and transparency.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the transparent policies of PML-N government are being acknowledged at international level.
He said that the image of Pakistan was tarnished at the international level due to wrong policies of previous rulers but as a result of the efforts of the present government and transparent policies of present government during last two and a half years, the confidence of international institutions has been restored in Pakistan and huge investment is being made in infrastructure, transport and other sectors.
The chief minister said that the splendid example of transparency was set in three gas based power projects in Punjab and a sum of 112 million rupees have been saved and are being spent on welfare of the masses.
Shahbaz Sharif said that saving of millions of rupees of the national resources is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. He said that national resources were looted ruthlessly in the past but the PML-N government has buried the culture of loot and plunder.
The chief minister said that no one can accuse it of corruption of even a single penny. He said that the process of public service will continue with speed and commitment.