Lahore Metro Train : Orange Line

[Med911]

Re: Lahore Metro Train : Orange Line

@Jolie

I’m probably just a product of my environment, but in Britain we say that opposition is half of your government. Opposition is the soul and heart of democracy and it is opposition that sets democracy apart from all other forms of governance styles. Metro Bus project have so many loopholes that it is frankly quite counter productive to ask people not to identify those black holes and speak against them so the future projects can benefit. Opposing world expensive shady projects on merit should not be equated with call for political instability and regime change.

I don’t know but you seem to have this impression that before Metro, people in Lahore were riding on donkey carts. But fact is, Metro is just one lane bus route whereas there are 50 different routes in Lahore with severe bus shortages. So really what factor made Metro project the most expensive mass transit project in the world with so many loopholes? Unfortunately, the project cannot be audited because the government building that was storing all Metro files caught fire. How convenient.

But still, one heavily subsidized, debt ridden extravagant icon project cannot be seen as symbol of ‘economic empowerment’. Fact is Metro Lahore project alone is costing Pakistan’s trouble economy the daily cost Rs5 million. Is this really a sustainable economic model, if you can even call is that?

One thing I have learned from the crisis in Middle East that ‘time alone’ doesn’t fix anything, you need constant efforts to keep the evolutionary process moving forward. Despite political disruptions, Pakistan’s economy was actually doing better than India up until the early 90s, while Pakistan got the most corrupt civilian governments in the face of PMLN and PPP to waste the whole decade, India made landmark economic reforms to liberalise their economy to make it more market friendly. So it was not time, India had to think outside of the box and pass reforms to achieve something.

How can the euphoria of economic empowerment be felt when in reality Pakistan has the third highest cooperate tax in the world, it is ranked below Bangladesh in poverty and human development, industries are shut, unemployment and illiteracy is sky high, and there is so much regional and ethnicity based glaring economic disparities?

In the day of information and staunch regional competition - I refuse to believe that Pakistan has the luxury of wasting another generation hoping that time will automatically fix everything.

No ones arguing against the importance of the opposition. But let it productive opposition. Lets not be antagonistic for the sake of being antagonistic. The Dharnas and sit ins are useless. In the case of the Metro bus, CPEC etc, the opposition seems to protesting just for the sake of it. So sure, you dont agree with the way in which the Metro Bus was built or is operating… But at least acknowledge that such a system is important to have. But the opposition doesnt even admit to that. They simply oppose it outright, without even considering the benefit to the public. It seems like political point scoring, not productive criticism.

A proper transit system is one which is organized and efficient. Private buses and rickshaws just dont cut it. There is no modern city without a proper transit system. I dont know of any large city other then Karachi, that relies on and functions efficiently, with just private transport. My understanding is that they plan to expand the system in the future. It wont be just this one corridor. Corruption in this case obviously cant be proven, but I like to think that the advantages outweigh costs. i

Almost all Public transit, anywhere in the world, runs in the red. The saving comes through its overall benefit to the average rider, and by extension the rest of the economy. Yes it costs money to run, but what about the money it saves the riders? Thats money they can now put back into the economy. That a poor student or a laborer or anyone living pay check to pay check, can now reach his/her destination economically and efficiently, is true empowerment. There is the benefit of reduced stress for riders, increased productivity, improved health… I mean the benefits of mass transit are immense.
Look at property values. Prices have jumped along that route… Another benefit to the overall economy.

Its not just time that we need to fix things… Its “productive time.” Meaning we build the institutions, we allow them to function, we empower people to vote and express their opinion, legislation is passed, reforms are introduced… Yes things need to change, but revolution brings about even more instability then it seeks to cure. What I see from this current opposition is revolutionary mindset… To quote George RR Martin, they would see the country burn if they could rule over the ashes.

Pakistan grew in the past but its was the inherent instability in the political system which meant no long term progress could be made. Army men come and overturn institutions, then democratic govts come and overturn that. India’s biggest benefit is its political stability… Stable environments encourage growth and investment.