Lahore Metro Train from March 23

LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced starting the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) service for public on March 23.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa ordered inauguration of the service for public in two months and directed the contractors to speed up the work. Meanwhile, the CPEC Authority chairman called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office on Friday and discussed different matters, including the progress made on CPEC-related projects. Both agreed to expedite the pace of work on CPEC projects. Usman Buzdar said that establishment of CPEC Authority was a good step by Prime Minister Imran Khan. It would help speed up the CPEC projects, he added.

The chief minister said that instructions have been issued for early start of Orange Line Metro Train as it would provide better transport facilities to the commuters. He said China was a very trustworthy friend of Pakistan and added that Chinese cooperation for the progress of Pakistan was praiseworthy.

He emphasised that CPEC would boost up economic activities in the region and would generate job opportunities. CPEC is a game-changer initiative which will pave the way for prosperity of the country. "Completion of this wonderful project is a collective responsibility of all of us. CPEC is being moved forward in the real sense during the tenure of the incumbent government and complete cooperation will be continued for early completion of CPEC projects in Punjab," he stated.

The chief minister said that special economic zones were being established to promote investment and industrialisation and added that the project had been started in Faisalabad on an area spanning over thousands of acres of land. An investment to the tune of billions of dollars would be made in the province due to the establishment of SEZs, he added. Special incentives have been given to the investors, he said, adding the government wanted to develop Punjab as a hub of trade and economic activities.