'This is Naya Pakistan': PM inaugurates Rs29bn Metro Bus Project in Multan

Published January 24, 2017
PM Nawaz Sharif unveiling the plaque to inaugurate Metro Bus Service in Multan. —APP
PM Nawaz Sharif unveiling the plaque to inaugurate Metro Bus Service in Multan. —APP
Nawaz Sharif addressing the public gathering after inaugural ceremony of Multan Metro Bus Service. —APP
Nawaz Sharif addressing the public gathering after inaugural ceremony of Multan Metro Bus Service. —APP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the Metro bus service, costing nearly Rs29 billion, in Multan.

Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and other high-ranking officials accompanied the PM at the project's inauguration ceremony, which was held in the Chungi No 9 area of the city.

PM Nawaz travelling on Metro Bus after inauguration of the  service. —APP
PM Nawaz travelling on Metro Bus after inauguration of the service. —APP

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Sharif said the Multan Metro bus project had been completed in the minimum time possible and work would start soon on the remaining part of the project.

He said contrary to the suggestions of many, the government decided to set the Multan Metro bus fare at Rs20, because the same is charged in Lahore and Islamabad.

The premier iterated that the project will greatly benefit the underprivileged of Multan, saying "i don't understand how they travelled" before.

The project has been completed at a cost of over Rs28.88bn.— DawnNews
The project has been completed at a cost of over Rs28.88bn.— DawnNews

In an indirect reference to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, the PM said governments of other provinces promised to build a naya Pakistan but their cities had no "Metro bus or efficient transport".

"Where is naya Pakistan?... If someone wants to see naya Pakistan being built, they should come to Multan," he told the audience, which included former PTI president Javed Hashmi.

Amid shouts of "Mian Sahab I love you", Sharif said the face and structure of Multan was changing.

The premier earlier took a ceremonial ride on one of the buses to formally kick off the service, which will initially operate 35 buses.

'This is Naya Pakistan'.

Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha earlier told Dawn that the project had been completed at a cost of over Rs28.88bn.

It included 21 bus stations spread over an 18.5km route, which are expected to facilitate 97,000 commuters daily, he said.

The project's technical adviser, Sabir Khan Sadozai, claimed that the project was technically faultless. He said as many as 2,600 jobs would be created over time due to the project.

He informed that the project had been divided into nine phases, and that Rs356 million had been paid to various departments for the shifting of various services on the route.

“The project’s life is 50 years, but if it is properly repaired and cared for, it can be useful for 100,” he said.

Must Read

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

The spectacle of the verbal spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was stark evidence of a tectonic shift in longstanding US foreign policy on Ukraine, Russia, Europe and Nato.

Opinion

Editorial

After the review
Updated 16 Mar, 2025

After the review

Should prepare economy for durable growth by attracting foreign private investments to boost productivity and exports.
Embracing crypto
16 Mar, 2025

Embracing crypto

IT seems a little prod was all it took for Pakistan to finally ‘embrace the future’. The Pakistan Crypto Council...
Fault lines
16 Mar, 2025

Fault lines

IT was a distressing spectacle, though a sadly predictable one. As the National Assembly took up for discussion the...
Revised solar policy
Updated 15 Mar, 2025

Revised solar policy

Criticism policy revisions misplaced as these will increase payback periods for consumers with oversized solar systems.
Toxic prejudice
15 Mar, 2025

Toxic prejudice

WITH far-right movements on the march across the world, it is no surprise that anti-Muslim bias is witnessing high...
Children in jails
15 Mar, 2025

Children in jails

PAKISTAN’S children in prison have often been treated like adult criminals. The Sindh government’s programme to...