No payment made to bike lane contractor: Azma
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has clarified that the paint used on bike lanes in the Lahore was applied by a local company on a trial basis under a one-year guarantee.
She emphasised in a statement that Punjab government funds had not been spent and no payment had been made to the company.
"As part of the trial phase, the same firm will reapply the paint at no additional cost," she stated, responding to recent comments by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Adviser Barrister Saif.
Drawing a comparison of the matter with Peshawar's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, she said, "Over the past five years, the Peshawar BRT has faced persistent inefficiencies, with more downtime than operational time, and has been frequently involved in accidents."
She added, "The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government still owes Rs60 billion for the Peshawar Metro project, with the BRT case pending in an international court."
She said Barrister Saif is deflecting attention from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's shortcomings by unfairly targeting Punjab's progress.
"Those unable to demonstrate their own government's achievements often resort to undermining others' successful initiatives," she remarked.
She said, "To date, the K-P government's spokesperson has failed to present any report on his chief minister's performance. Meanwhile, citizens in K-P continue to risk their lives crossing rivers on makeshift rafts and containers."
The minister stated, "Following the successful launches of the Metro Bus and Orange Train systems, Punjab is now advancing plans for tram services and the underground Metro Green Line project to further enhance urban mobility."
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