LAHORE, June 9: District Nazim Mian Amer has said CNG rickshaws will be available in the city from June 15 under the Green Punjab Programme. Briefing Canadian High Commissioner Stuart Hughes on the environment protection initiatives during a meeting here on Thursday, the nazim said the provincial government would pay a subsidy of Rs30,000 on CNG rickshaws costing over Rs100,000 each. The rickshaws would be delivered to buyers on payment of Rs28,000, and the remaining cost would be recovered in easy instalments without any markup on the loan.

He said the government was also encouraging four-stroke motorcycles. Preparations were also being made for operating CNG-fuelled buses in the city.

The construction of a compost plant with a capacity to convert 2,000 tons of solid waste into fertilizer was also in progress on 300 kanals on Mahmood Booti Road at a cost of Rs250 million, he said.

The nazim said friendship between the two countries was based on solid grounds. The friendly relations were facilitating steady growth of socio-economic ties, he said.