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Orange Line Train stations to be commercialised: Aleem

By Our Correspondent
January 09, 2019

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has said Orange Line Train stations would be commercialised for funds generation.

The minister added that private banks and other institutions would be offered sponsorship of these stations so that the loss could be minimised on permanent basis. Talking to the media, he said the past government took a number of decisions just for the sake of publicity and political popularity which were not aimed at ground realities. He claimed if Nawaz League was in power then Orange Line Train had to meet the same fate like Sasti Roti project as no under developing country can afford such heavy financial burden of Rs 120 billion annually only for one project. He said the last government is also responsible for delay in this project and now ‘we are working for early completion of Orange Line Train’. He said the present government is looking into every project and company and new priorities are being set to provide basic facilities to the masses as per their requirements. He disclosed that from Lahore Parking to Cattle Market Company everywhere there is no transparency and issues of overstaffing, wrong planning and heavy expenses are confronting and resulting in the form of losses for these companies. He indicated that either these companies would be streamlined or they have to be closed. He said that every project is being reviewed and decision would be taken in the larger interest of the public.

Replying different questions, Abdul Aleem Khan said as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, reforms are being introduced in Punjab and new dimensions have been set for each sector. He said in the last four months clear cut agenda has been devised for ensuring uplift in main departments and it would be focused that in new Pakistan there should be no nepotism and corruption. He said new Local Bodies System in Punjab would bring real progress and prosperity when in Village Councils and Neighbourhood Councils, public representatives would undertake developmental work at local level and especially in 25,000 villages of Punjab progress would start simultaneously. He claimed that as compare to the past a big saving is being ensured at government level and expenditure cost has reduced visibly. He hopes in the coming years graph of development would raise and present difficulties would be met successfully.

Clean-up drive: The district administration continued its anti-encroachment operation in different parts of the City and removed illegal structures and sealed six shops on keeping goods outside these shops here on Tuesday.

The operation continued indiscriminately without any pause and assistant commissioners on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Ms Saleha Saeed were observing all roads and important areas of their jurisdiction, officials said.