LAHORE: The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) has taken over the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (OLMTP) from the Chinese contractor CR—Norinco through the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak), the project consultant. It is now completing the task to hand over the project to another joint venture of some international firms this week for its operation and maintenance. The project is all set to start its commercial operation from Oct 25.

“After the takeover of the project, we have also placed our people at all stations, yards/depots, premises etc from Dera Gujran to Ali Razabad (Raiwind Road),” a senior PMTA official told Dawn on Tuesday.

According to CR-Norinco, the project has been successfully handed over to the PMTA after its completion.

“The project is the first officially launched urban mass transit project under the CPEC for the One Belt, One Road initiative and also the first metro transit project of Pakistan. The agreement for this project was signed in April 2015 in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking its great significance for both China and Pakistan,” said a spokesperson for the company in a press release.

He said the CR-Norinco as a joint venture between the China Railway (CR) and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) undertook the project and assumed responsibility for its specific implementation. The conceptual and detailed engineering and mechanical (E&M) work design were completed by CR Design Corporation whereas the soft loan was provided by the Exim Bank of China.

The press release acknowledges that with the combined efforts of project teams from both the countries, the CR-Norinco had successfully completed the project and employed and trained 2,000 Pakistani staff members. Through this project, the CR-Norinco has not only played its role in spurring local employment and economic growth effectively but also actively fulfilled its social responsibilities by making significant donations to a local primary school.

It is pertinent to mention the commercial operation date of the project was earlier set as June 11 this year. But the joint venture of three companies, including two Chinese firms, requested the PMTA to extend this date since the entire international flight operations in the world, including China, were suspended due to the coronavirus and the Chinese engineers, who needed to come from China to Pakistan, were unable to travel. Taking the situation into consideration, the government extended the project operation date till Oct 25.

The international tenders were floated on Jan 29, 2014. Later, during a meeting between the then President of Pakistan and the Chinese premier held on Feb 19 in Beijing, it was announced that the project would be funded under the CPEC.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2020