Re: Lahore Metro Train : Orange Line
40 billion are provided by the federal government. Probably these funds will be used for land acquisition. After a long time (Lahore airport) Lahore is getting something from Federal Development Fund. Karachi on the other hand got billions during Musharraf era for the construction of road network. I think it was good that Karachi’s Mustafa Kamal got those billions from Federal Development budget.. but being the second largest city in Pakistan.. it’s criminal that people start criticizing if Lahore is getting the first 40 billion after 10 years.. compared to upward of 1,000 billion spent in Karachi during last 10 years. The rest of 1.2 billion dollars is being invested by the Chinese company who will recover the amount through operation of this facility in next 25 years. If the government of Punjab decides to subsidize the commuters.. they will have to pay the Chinese company through their own resources.
The bullet train project is not in the pipe line as on today. It’s in the dreams for the time being. If the security situation improves, the investors in few years can be interested in such a project. For the time being.. Minister of Railways Saad Rafiq is trying desperately to turn around Railways. His game plan is to increase revenues through cargo to change financial situation of railways. Already the number of Cargo trains has gone up to 25 from 5. He is planning to increase these cargo trains to 100 within one year. If he is able to do that.. Railway deficit will reduce a lot.
We can give some leverage to SS for josh Khitabad. At least he is doing something.. instead of just planning dharnas and agitation.
I agree with this, but we need to keep in mind that there is already a strong sense of alienation among the smaller provinces. Anyways, we will have to wait and see how things pan out.