I want to appreciate Shahbaz Sharif - (Metro Bus)

[kakaballi]

Re: I want to appreciate Shahbaz Sharif - (Metro Bus)

@Silaaj

It is the norm in countries where basic necessities are covered, and funding is available. Pakistan does not have the luxury of going for such projects at public expense, when basic necessities like power, gas, jobs are not even tackled, let alone covered.

Claiming this project as a victory is similar to PPP claiming that the employment rate has risen in their tenure, as they have given jobs to 50,000 people. What they dont understand is that those 50,000 people will be paid out of the exchequer, and it will be a zero sum game for the public at large.

I agree with you that education, health and basic necessities should be the priorities of governments. I was just replying to Khoji’s assertion that government should not fund infrastructure projects at all.

My personal opinion is that education should be the first priority, followed by health. Infrastructure is an important part of government’s responsibility too and lack of proper transport system hinders economic development. Power, Water, Sanitation and Gas are part of infrastructure as well. Delhi has a major poverty problem but the economy got a nice boost from the metro rail they installed over last few years. Mass transit systems (rail and public buses) also improve the air quality. We could not have Metro Rail systems because they require much more funding and electricity, both of which are short.

There would have been corruption in the project. There would be several deficiencies in the system but this is still better than the Chaudhries’ Lahore Mass Rail Transit system that never could get past the feasibility study stages. I just hope this is the first, and within the next decade we have a network of such transport systems in all major cities. I would definitely prefer taking a bus to driving in the mad Lahore traffic, if it is convenient and accessible.