‘Shops, offices along Metro route to get discount in tax’

LAHORE

The Punjab government has decided to give concession in property tax to the shops and business offices situated along the route of Metro Orange Line Train project.

This was stated by Khawaja Ahmad Hasssaan, chairman of the steering committee for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project while chairing the weekly meeting of the project. He said the Punjab chief minister was desirous of giving concession in property tax to the shops and business offices along the route of the metro train which had been affected due to the ongoing civil works on the project.

He directed the officials of Excise and Taxation Department for carrying out a comprehensive survey of such business concerns and to submit report within a week time in this regard. The meeting was informed that 54 percent civil work of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project had so far been completed.

More than 64 percent work on package one from Dera Gujjran to Choburji had been finalised while work on all the 11 elevated stations of the train to be constructed in this stretch was being executed with full momentum. Work for construction of piles, pile caps and pears for the stations have been completed. Gray structure of four of the eleven stations will be handed over to CR-NORINCO in December for carrying out electrical and mechanical works while the remaining seven stations will be entrusted to the Chinese contractor in January 2017.

He said that remaining civil work on package two of the project from Chouburji to Ali Town had been awarded to the new contractor with the directions to complete this Rs 11.40 billion work within 150 days. He directed all the relevant departments for joining hand with the new contractor for meeting the target set for timely completion of civil work on this package. Ahmad Hasssaan directed the officials of Parks and Horticulture Authority for carrying out beautification through horticulture work along the eight kilometre-long elevated track of Lahore Metro Bus Service. He ordered PHA for preparing an adornment plan of international standard for the project.