LAHORE, July 8: Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) gave the go-ahead on Monday for talks with foreign investors for the Lahore light transit rail project.

The approval was given in a meeting with representatives of a foreign consortium at the Governor’s House. The meeting was attended by investors from the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Turkey.

The governor asked the city government to discuss light transit rail, ring road, and urban transport service projects with the investor.

The 25-kilometre light transit rail between Shahdara and the new airport terminal is estimated to cost Rs395 million.

The governor also approved setting up a board of investment in the province to facilitate foreign investors.

The governor also approved the appointment of Punjab University vice-chancellor Lt-Gen Arshad Mahmood (retired) as chairman of the board of governors for the School of Biological Sciences, the appointment of University of Engineering and Technology vice-chancellor Maj-Gen Muhammad Akram (retired) as chairman of the board of governors for Khwarzmi Institute of Computer Sciences and the appointment of the Government College, Lahore, principal, Prof Khalid Aftab, as chairman of the board of governors of the School of Mathematical Sciences.

The governor was informed that MPhil and PhD classes at these centres would start in September.

The government has allocated Rs226 million to equip these centres with modern research laboratories.