- Orders mechanism to reduce metro bus fares to facilitate public
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government responsible for the load-shedding, saying that challenges were being faced in energy sector due to PTI’s bad policies.
Addressing a meeting held to review measures to end power outages, PM Shehbaz said that ending load-shedding was the responsibility of the coalition government despite the inherited baggage of crisis from the previous government.
The prime minister reiterated that the government was focused on taking effective measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity to consumers.
He said the government was cognizant of the problems faced by the people during high mercury levels, adding that every effort would be made to address the genuine challenges.
PM Shehbaz mentioned that to resolve the problem, the government banned the import of machinery for raw materials and avoided the purchase of expensive gas.
The premier pointed out that the lack of maintenance of power plants during the tenure of the previous government resulted in power shortage.
He said quashing the transparent and cheap deal with Qatar for the supply of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) at a 13 percent rate in a period of 15 years was big negligence on part of the previous government.
Also, the prime minister said, despite commitment, the revolving account was not opened with China. He also regretted that during the last four years, the opportunity to buy cheap gas was deliberately missed.
He said the situation led to financial challenges and slowed down the pace of development in the country, vowing to overcome the crisis of power generation by restoring the halted projects.
ORDERS MECHANISM TO REDUCE METRO BUS FARES
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to introduce a coordinated mechanism for the reduction in fares of metro bus service to provide relief to the masses.
The prime minister issued directives while chairing a meeting to review progress on Orange, Blue and Green Line Bus services in the federal capital.
He also directed to complete landscaping of Orange Line Metro Bus Service from Faiz Ahmed Faiz Terminal to the Islamabad Airport within seven days.
The prime minister was also apprised of the progress on the Bhara Kahu Bypass project. The prime minister directed to ensure the preservation of forests during the execution of the project.
The meeting was told that 29-kilometer Orange Line Bus Service had been connected with Faiz Ahmed Faiz Terminal instead of NHA Station which had increased the number of passengers from 2000 to 3000 during peak hours and 18,000 a day.
The 20-kilometer Blue Line from Koral to PIMS was also ready for inauguration. Comprising 13 stations, the route would facilitate the people living along the Islamabad Expressway, the PM told.
It was told that the planned 15.5 kilometer Greenline Bus Service from Bhara Kahu to PIMS would facilitate the people of Bhara Kahu and the travelers of Murree.
Moreover, the travelers coming from Airport through Orange Line would also benefit from the service to reach Murree.
