LAHORE: The Punjab government has endorsed an exclusive electric bike plan for its government workers, according to official sources.
This move was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the provincial premier to examine the progress of the transport sector in the province. Under this plan, government employees can buy electric bikes using easy installments, easing their financial burden on travel.
It may be added that under this project, the authorities have decided to launch electric buses in 10 districts of the province including Attock, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Layyah, and Sheikhupura.
In this regard, according to the details, 100 electric buses will reach Punjab in the current month while the total number will touch 714 by June. The Punjab CM requested an extensive plan to run 1,500 electric buses on tehsil levels besides setting up separate charging and maintenance depots at each division level.
The progress made in the construction and renovation work of metro bus stations in Gujranwala and Faisalabad was also discussed, and further directions were given to make this process faster using new designs that have been approved recently.
Furthermore, Punjab will begin the first green taxi ride service in which the first batch of e-taxis will be launched in May and June.
While addressing this gathering, Maryam Nawaz stated that the implementation of advanced transportation systems not only will help save time for passengers but will also contribute to environmental sustainability.
Punjab govt to launch bullet train service from Lahore to Rawalpindi
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi have signed a historic memorandum of understanding to launch the bullet train project.
Under this project, the 280-kilometer journey from Lahore to Rawalpindi can be completed in just two and a half hours. This initiative will provide modern and fast travel facilities to the people of Punjab.
The biggest breakthrough of this agreement is the launch of the fast train service between Lahore and Rawalpindi, which will prove to be a milestone. The most modern trains will run on 1415-kilometer-long routes in 20 regions of Punjab, which will not only increase the speed of travel between Lahore and Rawalpindi but will also modernize the transport system in the entire Punjab. Under this project, modern engines and world-class coaches will be provided.
The important routes of the project include the train service between Shahdara, Narowal, and Sialkot, a 370 km-long route from Raiwind, Kasur, and Pakpattan to Lodhran, Sheikhupura, Jaranwala, and Shorkot (220 km), and the Lala Musa, Malikwal, and Sargodha route. In addition, a 303 km long inter-provincial route from Kot Addu to Dera Ghazi Khan and Kashmore, and train service from Faisalabad via Chak Jhumra and Shaheenabad will also be part of this project.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said that an automated system will also be introduced across Punjab to prevent railway accidents. He also said that to improve the condition of Lahore Railway Station, it will be upgraded according to world standards. In addition, 40-kilometer-long green parks will be built along the track from Shahdara to Raiwind, and an effort will be made to adapt it to European-style landscapes by planting more than 400,000 trees along the track.
Referring to this project, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that this initiative is a historic moment for the nearly 90 million people of Punjab, and she vowed to continue her efforts to provide the best and safest transport in the European style to the 110 million people of Punjab. She reiterated that she will continue to take revolutionary steps in the transport sector as well as in the health, education, and IT sectors.
This project is being described as a major success for the people of Punjab, which will not only bring a revolution in the railway sector but will also play an important role in the economy and development of the entire province.
