Train project at all costs, says CM

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Orange Line Metro Train is a historic project for provision of safe, respectable and economical transport facilities to the common man. He said only a handful of elements are criticising this splendid project of improvement in living standard of poor people and provision of facilities to the masses. 

Shahbaz Sharif said he could sacrifice his life but not allow anyone to hamper this public welfare project. He said he will fight the persons opposing this project on every front and orange line metro train project will be executed at any cost in the interest of the masses.

He said it is war between progress and backwardness, prosperity and poverty, truth and falsehood, justice against injustice and he will stand by the poor masses like a rock. He said orange line metro train is not the personal property of anyone but it is the project of the common people. 

The CM said he is serving the people with honesty, commitment and sincerity and this process will continue.

He said the culture of merit and transparency has been promoted in the province and he is ready to face any punishment if corruption of even a single penny is proved against him even after his death. 

He was addressing a special seminar in connection with Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Thursday. 

The CM said China is to provide funds of 150 billion rupees for this project and the first installment is to be repaid after seven years.

The CM said that it is hundred percent Chinese funding. He said no country has given loan on such soft terms. He said the Punjab government has made payment of compensation to the landowners from its own resources. The CM said the project is not for the elites who travel by Pajero, Mercedes or other luxury vehicles but for the common man.

Therefore, he said, a handful of elites are opposing this project and trying to widen the gulf between the rich and the poor as these people do not want that the common man to travel with dignity and comfort. He said presidents, PMs, CMs, ministers, judges and elites are not going to travel by orange line metro train but this project is for those great Pakistanis who come out of their houses in the morning to find their livelihood.

He said those who live in palaces and ridicule poor people have termed this gift also a loan. He said Chinese government has made hundred percent funding for orange line metro train project and its important element is that China has given civil works of this project to Pakistani companies. 

The CM asked the participants of the seminar to promise him that they will support him in upholding the rights of the poor as it is the only way to take Pakistan forward. He said elements opposing public welfare projects also alleged that Lahore orange line metro train project has a higher cost than similar projects in other countries. He said that it is a lie as compared to metro trains of other countries, this project has a lower cost.