By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Pakistan achieved yet another milestone when the country’s maiden Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), built with the support of China, successfully completed its integrated testing and commissioning inspection in Lahore.
According to the details shared by the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on May 7, the integrated test and commissioning inspection for OLMT has been successfully completed and passed. The milestone had been achieved after a series of meetings and tests.
The Chinese team, working on the project, was seen holding a banner inscribed with ‘Congratulations on passing test and Commissioning inspection for Lahore Metro Line project’ to celebrate the occasion.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Lt. General (rtd) Asim Salim Bajwa, in his twitter message announced that: “Held series of meetings, the whole team is working towards final commissioning of Orange Train.”
“There is no political hindrance in its way. The project is Pakistan’s future as well as a tangible reality and no compromise will be made on it” he said while talking to a delegation of senior journalists.
While keeping in view the Socio-economic development in the country, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being developed in all the four provinces under the CPEC.
The OLMT route begins at Ali Town and ends at the Dera Gujran/Ring Road Interchange with the stops being Ali Town, Raiwind Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road, Chauburji, Lake Road, Ustadullah Bakhsh Road, GPO Chowk, Macleod Road, Nicholson Road, Boharwala Chowk, Sultanpura, GT Road and Dera Gujran/Ring Road Interchange.
It may be recalled that the first test run of the train was held in May 2018 by the then Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
The completion of project was delayed due to a combination of factors, including the objection raised on the project by the then Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan Mr. Justice Saqib Nisar.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz, called on Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Ambassador Yao Jing assured Minister Shibli Faraz that China would keep up its support to Pakistan at this critical juncture of COVID-19.
