Work on Orange train project should continue 24/7: Shahbaz

LAHORE: Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing has congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over the permission to continue work on Orange Line Metro Train.

Yao Jing, who called on Shahbaz at the Punjab House Islamabad on Tuesday, discussed different matters of mutual interest including CPEC-related initiatives and expansion of mutual cooperation in different sectors came.

He promised full cooperation for early completion of the “masterpiece” of Pak-China friendship and said the Chinese companies working on the venture would make organised efforts to complete their assignments as soon as possible.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, “This project is a gift to the people of Pakistan from the president and prime minister of China,” adding that the Chinese leadership had fully supported the project despite the hurdles.

“World peace and prosperity are directly linked with economic prosperity and the incumbent government has worked with full dedication to bring prosperity in the lives of the common man along with alleviation of poverty, joblessness and economic disparity, said Shahbaz.

Separately, the chief minister described the Orange Line Metro Train as a project of the whole nation, as he addressed a meeting from Punjab House through the video link to review progress on civil, electrical and mechanical works and the future course of action.

Shahbaz made it clear that he would not tolerate any leniency in safety standards and said all necessary resources should be utilised for immediate completion of pending works of Package-I and Package-II. The line departments should speed up the construction work by maintaining close liaison with each other, he said, adding that work should continue 24/7 on the project.

Separately, the chief minister, in a message, condemned the attack on security forces in North Waziristan and expressed a deep sense of grief over the martyrdom of 2nd Lt Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat.

“The nation salutes their great sacrifices and the 21 crore people of Pakistan are proud of the martyrs who have written a new history with their blood and we cannot forget their immortal sacrifices,” he said. Shahbaz also expressed sorrow over the death of four family members after the roof of their house caved in at Nankana Sahib.