LAHORE: The Punjab Archaeology Department has set up a hotline for receiving and rectifying public complaints following directions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan concerning preservation of 11 historical sites situated along the alignment of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.

Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, chairman of the steering committee for the project, told the weekly review meeting here on Wednesday that all possible arrangements had been put in place to protect the 11 sites. The measures include covering them with green protective sheets and use of special instruments for continuously monitoring vibration intensity and mitigating environmental and noise pollution around these points.

He said the project was being executed as per international standards and it was equivalent of the metro projects in developed countries. It could serve as an example to be emulated for mass transit systems in other cities of Pakistan, he added.

Nespak General Manager Salman Hafeez informed the meeting that 80.4pc of the civil work besides 36.5pc of electrical and mechanical work on the project had so far been completed. Progress on package-I from Dera Gujjaran, G.T Road to Chouburji was 88.3pc, package-II from Choburji to Ali Town 68pc, Depot near Dera Gujjaran 83.5pc and on Stabling Yard near Ali Town 84.4pc.

The meeting was told that the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited had scheduled shutdown (Thursday and Friday) for shifting of services in areas around The Mall including WAPDA House, Governor’s House, Nisbet Road, Habibullah Road and Davies Road.

Khwaja Hassaan observed that the project had already suffered interruption and there was no room for further delay. He directed the departments to work with closer cooperation for completing this landmark project at the earliest. He directed the Chinese contractor ‘CR-NORINCO’ to expedite electrical and mechanical works on the project and assured them of 24-hour security cover.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2017