Metro bus for other cities soon: Shahbaz

[Salman]

Metro bus for other cities soon: Shahbaz

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the Metro Bus Service project was being expeditiously completed in the provincial capital. He said the project would also be launched in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan, to provide speedy and affordable travelling facilities to the people.

Presiding over a meeting on Metro Bus Service project on Wednesday, the chief minister directed the department concerned for fast preparing a feasibility report on operating the Service in the these cities.

Shahbaz said the Metro Bus Service track from Gajumatta to Shahdara was continuing round the clock whereas all possible steps were being taken to ensure speedy completion of this project.

The chief minister said the second phase of the project would commence from Azadi Chowk to Ring Road via Railway Station and GT Road. He directed the LDA director general to utilise all out resources to ensure quick completion of the project, in addition to making an effective system of traffic management during the execution of the project.

He directed LED screens should be installed in the City to provide traffic related information to the citizens, while generators be arranged for 24 hours operationalisation of these screens. He directed all important traffic signal should be converted to solar energy.

The chief minister said a comprehensive modern system of sanitation was being introduced in all major cities of the province in view of the burgeoning population.

The latest solid waste management system, implemented in Lahore with the cooperation of Turkish companies, would also be introduced in Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Multan and Gujranwala within this year, while this modern system of cleanliness extended to all major cities of the province, Shahbaz said.

Addressing a briefing session of Punjab Skill Development Fund (PSDF) for low income families, the chief minister said the Fund was successfully operating in the districts of South Punjab, while the scope of this programme would be extended soon throughout the province.

The chief minister said deserving persons were being imparted different skills under the programme. He said the efficiency of fund could be further augmented through close coordination and cooperation between the concerned institutions.

The CM passed directions for forming a committee to solve the matters relating to PSDF and exploring the possibility of establishing a Youth Skills Development Authority. He informed that after its success in Lahore, a slaughterhouse would also be established in South Punjab to provide meat to the general public in accordance with hygienic principles.

Shahbaz said, by preparing a skilled force, we could reduce unemployment and poverty; however, such courses would have to be evolved which were in accordance with the market needs.

Department for International Development (DFID) UK head in Pakistan George Turkington, DFID Economic Growth Group President Alex Ferren, Lead Advisor Punjab Economic Opportunity Forum Fatima Afzal, Secretaries of industries, planning and development, PSDF chief executive officer Ali Sarfraz, Sara Saeed, Dr Ijaz Nabi and Almas Haider were also present on the occasion.