LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday surrendered two senior officers to the federal government, who were made OSD for allegedly not following the caretaker chief minister’s instructions in the execution of Gulberg-Babu Sabu Elevated expressway and Metro bus Shahdara to Kala Shah Kaku extension projects.

The government has surrendered former transport department secretary/ chairman Punjab Transport Authority Usman Ali Khan (PAS/ BS-20) and former Punjab Masstransit Authority managing director Aamir Aqiq Khan (PAS/ BS-19) and directed them to report to the Establishment Division for further orders. A notification to the effect was issued on Wednesday.

Both the officers reportedly wanted to go ahead with the proposed Metro bus extension project after completing the feasibility report. They had also sought a feasibility report to give NOC for plying of public transport on the elevated expressway.

Since the caretaker government wanted to launch the project immediately, a source in the bureaucracy told Dawn that the government was of the view that it would take quite long to prepare the feasibility report and go by the book, while there was a need to launch the project at the earliest. However, it is also learnt, the expressway project was halted after both officers’ objections.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2023