LAHORE, Oct 2: Punjab Minister Rana Shamshad Ahmed Khan has said that only the owners of CNG buses would be given route permits in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi under the environment-friendly transport policy of the government.

Talking to a delegation of transporters here, he said that the government wanted to encourage CNG buses in the province because these were not only environment friendly but the operation costs were also low.

He said the government had already imposed a ban on manufacture and registration of new two-stroke engine rickshaws in big cities. It had also created a Rs1 billion green fund for advancing interest-free loans for the purchase of four-stroke rickshaws and conversion of two-stroke rickshaws into four stroke. Four-stroke rickshaws will start operation in all the big cities by 2007 as a result of the government policy.

ARRESTED: The City District Government squads on Sunday arrested 11 people for using metal wire and prohibited thread for flying kites in the Walled City.

The squad, led by the deputy district officer (revenue), handed over the arrested people to the Tibbi police after lodging FIRs against them under the Dangerous Kite-flying Ordinance.