LAHORE, Dec 13: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday gave a formal approval to set up the ‘Lahore Transport Company’ for solving transport problems being faced by citizens.

He gave the approval while presiding over a meeting at his secretariat to review transport facilities in the city, says a handout.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said he would not like to see any further delay in the provision of transport facilities to citizens and ordered urgent steps to purchase locally-made buses.

Shahbaz Sharif said the government would also encourage operators of the private sector and would extend them a subsidy for plying buses.

He said the Lahore Transport Company should be run as a regulatory authority and professionals be included in its board of directors. He directed that the LTC should be registered as early as possible, and its offices should be set up in Ichhra Depot on Ferozpur Road. “But first of all purchase of buses should be ensured and purchase order should be issued within 24 hours,” he stressed.

He said effective measures would be taken for the improvement of the traffic system in the city, and a meeting of departments concerned would be convened soon.

Earlier, Taskforce on Transport Chairman Tasneem Noorani briefed the meeting on the establishment of the Lahore Transport Company.

He said the company board would comprise nine directors, including four from the private sector. He said besides determination of route planning and fares, the company would also ensure solution to other transport-related problems. The meeting participants gave their proposals regarding formation of the LTC.

The meeting was also attended by MPAs Mohsin Latif and Irfan Daha, additional chief secretary, secretaries of transport, finance, schools, LDA DG and the DCO.

Meanwhile, former executive director of World Bank, Shuja Shah, called on the chief minister at his secretariat here on Saturday.

Various development projects, including infrastructure, came under discussion during the meeting.

Shahbaz Sharif briefed Shah on infrastructure and various development projects. He said that Board of Investment was being re-activated.