Pakistan's Maryam Nawaz flags off ‘First Trackless Tram', internet calls it ‘just a Bus'
Last week, Ms Nawaz took the trackless tram for a test ride from Raiwind Road to Muslim Town in Lahore, assessing its performance in live traffic. Alongside Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, she reviewed technical aspects and emphasised the project's significance for future urban development.
"Ladies and gentlemen, South Asia's first-ever Track-less tram soon starting its service in Lahore Punjab under Maryam Nawaz," the tweet shared by Nawaz read.
While officials hailed it as a revolutionary step in urban transportation, many internet users were not convinced and pointed out that a trackless tram is essentially a bus, questioning the hype surrounding the project.
Many social media users poked fun at the perceived lack of originality, with some users comparing it to existing bus systems, highlighting that the "new" technology seemed more like a rebranded concept rather than an innovative solution.
A user wrote, 'That's called a bus.'
Another user asked on X, 'It's a bus. What does a trackless tram even mean?'
'Oh wow, a 'track-less tram'. Basically a fancy bus with a dramatic flair! Lahore really reinventing the wheel there. Next, maybe South Asia's first 'track-less train' (spoiler: also a bus). Meanwhile, in Indian cities, we're out here actually building metros, bullet trains, and expressways! But hey, props to Lahore for trying..maybe someday they'll figure out tracks too. Baby steps, guys, baby steps,' the third user wrote.
'Only Pakistanis can present a bus as train,' the fourth user remarked.
'If you shape it like an engine then it doesn't become trackless train. It's just a bus mam,' the fifth user wrote.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
14 minutes ago
- Mint
Self-reliance, self-defence to anchor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12th Independence Day address
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address could return to one of his signature themes: Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India. He may present it as the centrepiece of the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) plan to propel India's $4-trillion economy—projected to be the world's fourth largest in 2025-26—towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, two people close to the matter said. Against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical frictions, trade disputes, and recent military action, Modi is likely to frame economic resilience, defence capability, and strategic autonomy as the pillars of the country's way forward. This year will mark Modi's 12th consecutive Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a milestone achieved by only two of his predecessors, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. India is celebrating its 79th Independence Day on 15 August. From that symbolic perch, India's prime minister traditionally outlines a vision for the nation, blending policy announcements with a call to collective purpose. 'Amid shifting global currents and rising geopolitical pressures, the Prime Minister could place Atmanirbhar Bharat at the heart of his message," said the first of the two persons mentioned above, on the condition of anonymity. The address comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists in April. Modi could also highlight the armed forces' successes in striking terrorist camps across the border in Pakistan, while reaffirming that the campaign will continue until every terrorist threat is eliminated, the first person added. This also offers the opportunity to showcase India's own armaments and weapon systems globally. On global headwinds The self-reliance message, which gained traction during the covid-19 pandemic as a push for self-sufficiency, is likely to be reinvigorated amid new global headwinds. In recent weeks, the US has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, citing New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow. Against this backdrop, Modi could underscore the 'vocal for local" mantra, positioning homegrown brands, 'zero-defect, zero-effect" manufacturing, and indigenous innovation as shields against external shocks, said the second person, on the condition of anonymity. 'He is also likely to assure farmers, manufacturers, the dairy sector, and fishermen that their interests will not be sacrificed, even at significant cost," the second person added. Experts expect Modi's speech to have defence-related, political and economic dimensions, although it is very hard to predict what he may say. 'The adoption of the defence philosophy that acts of terrorism are indeed acts of war may be highlighted as India's guiding approach to respond to any terrorist activity," said A.K. Verma, director of the independent think tank Centre for the Study of Society and Politics. Verma expects the Prime Minister's speech to reflect the shift in India's foreign policy from one of equidistance to everyone to equal closeness to everyone. Modi had articulated this policy shift in March. 'This is a significant shift," said Verma. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister may counter US President Donald Trump's description of India as a 'dead economy" by citing its growth momentum and projections, placing it on course to become the world's third-largest economy. 'India has a big domestic market. The tariffs are not going to have an impact on India's gross domestic product (GDP). However, this is a great opportunity to expand our exports to markets that have not received focused attention in the past. Stepping up exports to multiple small markets will collectively give a strong positive boost to Indian exports," added Verma. 'Hints may emerge of fresh stimulus measures for exporters, aimed at widening India's footprint in global markets," said the first person. Already, the government is working on an economic package under an export promotion mission to energize India's export growth at a time when global trade faces prolonged headwinds, the person added. Modi could call on the country's technologists to develop solutions rooted in local realities, serving villages, small towns, and rural industries first, not as an act of isolationism but as 'strategic empowerment," the person said. On foreign policy The Prime Minister could emphasize India's commitment to strategic autonomy: Maintaining diverse partnerships while protecting democratic values and national priorities. 'The broader message will be one of resilience that Atmanirbhar Bharat is not a retreat from the world, but a confident stride into it, unshaken by tariff disputes or geopolitical pressures, and anchored in the promise of inclusive growth," said the second person. Modi would also reiterate the government's commitment to its people—women, youth, farmers, and the poor. These four pillars have been integral to the Modi government's vision. He, while touching these pillars, may also announce new schemes. A spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office didn't respond to Mint's emailed queries. Dhirendra Kumar and Vijay C. Roy in New Delhi contributed to the story.
Economic Times
14 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Analysts support IAF Chief's claim of shooting down Pakistan's fighter jets during Operation Sindoor
International analysts support Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh's statement. It confirms the Indian Air Force shot down Pakistani jets during Operation Sindoor. Tom Cooper highlights the S-400's record-setting engagement. It shot down a Pakistani AEW&C aircraft from 300 km. Cooper and John Spencer view Operation Sindoor as a decisive Indian victory. The operation was carried out under high risk. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads S-400 shoot-down described as historic Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Operation carried out under high risk Operation Sindoor termed a decisive Indian victory Several international military aviation analysts and historians have supported Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh's recent statement that the Indian Air Force shot down at least five Pakistani Air Force fighter jets and one airborne early warning aircraft during Operation Sindoor , conducted between May 7 and May official denials from Pakistan, Austria-based aerial warfare expert Tom Cooper described the IAF Chief's remarks as a confirmation of assessments already made earlier. "What ACM Singh said was just a confirmation of something that was more or less known since May," Cooper told ANI. He added that there had been evidence not only of aerial losses but also of Pakistani aircraft destroyed on the ground during the also endorsed Singh's claim that India's S-400 surface-to-air missile system achieved a record-setting engagement by shooting down a target from a range of 300 km. He identified the target as a Saab 2000, a Pakistani airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft."It is the longest range confirmed shoot-down by a surface-to-air missile. This is a historic achievement," he said, noting that the only comparable incident was during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, where a surface-to-air missile hit a target at around 200 the operational challenges, Cooper said the S-400 missile system was deployed so close to the India-Pakistan border that it was within range of Pakistani artillery. 'If it would stay, its presence of the firing unit in question would have been detected by Pakistanis too early, Pakistanis could have shelled the area in question, hit and destroyed this firing unit. So it was quite a risky operation, actually,' he Cooper has previously described Operation Sindoor as a clear victory for India. His view aligns with that of John Spencer, another prominent military strategist, who also assessed the outcome of the limited war as decisively in India's favour.(With inputs from TOI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Nimisha Priya on death row: SC told talks ongoing, no immediate threat
The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that there was "no immediate threat" to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya who is on death row in Yemen for murder. It then listed the matter after eight weeks. The counsel for petitioner organisation Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, which is extending legal support to Priya, requested a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta to adjourn the matter. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save the 38-year-old nurse from Palakkad in Kerala who was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner in 2017. "Negotiations are going on. As of now there is no immediate threat. Kindly adjourn it by four weeks. Hopefully, everything will be over by that time," the counsel said. "Let this matter be listed after eight weeks," the bench then said. The petitioner's counsel said they would mention the matter before the top court if there was any urgency. The top court was apprised last month that Priya's execution, which was scheduled for July 16, had been stayed. On July 18, the Centre informed the top court that efforts were on and the government was trying everything possible to ensure Priya came out safely. The petitioner organisation sought a Centre-appointed delegation to go to Yemen to meet the murder victim's family for negotiations. The bench said the petitioner could make a representation to the government. The petitioner's counsel had earlier said Priya's mother was in Yemen to negotiate with the victim's family and she has gone there as the Delhi High Court asked the Centre to give her permission to travel. Priya was convicted in 2017, sentenced to death in 2020 and her final appeal rejected in 2023. She is imprisoned in a jail in the Yemen capital Sana'a. The petitioner's counsel had earlier told the apex court that payment of blood money to the family of the deceased permissible under the Sharia law could be explored. He said the victim's family might pardon Priya if blood money was paid. On July 17, India said it was in touch with Yemeni authorities as well as certain friendly nations as part of efforts to reach a "mutually agreeable solution" in the case. According to Yemeni court documents, Priya allegedly drugged and murdered Talal Abdo Mahdi in July 2017. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
