LAHORE, Aug 19: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has sought foolproof safety arrangements on the routes of metro bus project and directed the authorities concerned to take all-out measures to ensure safety of human lives especially during Eid holidays.

He was presiding over a meeting to review safety arrangements on the metro routes here on Sunday.

Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, MPAs Mehr Ishtiaq and Hafiz Nauman, Metro project Managing Director, Lahore Commissioner, acting Punjab Police Inspector General and others were present.

The chief minister announced Rs500,000 financial assistance for the family of Farzana who lost her life when she recently fell into a ditch dug on metro route.

He sought a comprehensive strategy for checking such incidents in future and display of a recorded message so that people could be apprised of the nature of work and the timeframe.

Ironically, a huge investment running into billions had already been made on the project but planning for its allied facilities is yet to be undertaken as is evident from the chief minister’s instructions for identifying locations for giving parking facility to the metro passengers.

He directed that the proposal of setting up a drop line for passengers should also be considered.

The chief minister said all services and facilities regarding metro bus should be outsourced and the speed of work should be further accelerated for early completion of the project.