Punjab: School bus service in five major cities: CM

[Naveed Yaseen]

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government has adopted a comprehensive strategy for providing better transport facilities to the masses as in addition to the import of CNG buses, the local buses would also be used for the purpose.

The CM has also ordered launching of school bus service for the students of five major cities of the province.

He was addressing a high level meeting held on Tuesday to review various projects regarding the provision of better transport facilities to the masses, the removal of encroachments as well as transformation of Lahore into the City of Gardens.

Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, Haroon Khawaja, the LDA DG, the Transport secretary and PHA consultant Mustafa Kamal were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM directed that the encroachments must be removed immediately from all areas of the province while effective measures should be taken for the beautification of Lahore. He said the best operators would be selected for improving as well as running public transport system so that modern transport facilities could be extended to the masses.

He directed to expedite import of CNG buses from China, saying the standard and durability of the buses should be checked prior to their import. He said that 25 per cent subsidy would be given by the government on the import of the CNG buses as it would help check environmental pollution as well.

Shahbaz said that order for the purchase of 400 to 500 local buses must be placed till the import of CNG buses from China so as to solve transport problems of the citizens.

He said the buses should be acquired as early as possible and well-reputed companies must be engaged in the project. He said the advertisement should also be given in the print media for the purpose.

The CM said the arrangements would be made for the provision of loans to public transport firms at the prevailing rate. He also directed to start school bus service immediately saying the project would be started initially in five major cities of the province while later its scope would be extended throughout the province. He said that the basic purpose of the project was to provide better transport facilities to the students of the backward areas.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137596