Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Train

I saw the video of the Shanghai Magnetic Lavitation Train and it was mindblowing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LD_R2M6c8A&feature=related

Way to go China

Bus Service for Women Launched in Peshawar

PESHAWAR, Dec 16: Peshawar has become the first city in the country to have an exclusive CNG bus service for women commuters.“It is not segregation but a progressive step taken by the provincial government,” said provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who was the chief guest at the launching ceremony of the bus service here on Tuesday.

The bus service is a joint venture of the provincial social welfare and women development, transport department and the city district government.Mr Hussain said that in the current security scenario Peshawar was surrounded by fear but the people here should fight back all fears and make the city lively.

He said militants and terrorists should not discourage us from living a normal life and advised people to show unity in the face of threats.Sitara Imran, social welfare and women development minister, said the district and provincial governments should try to make this initiative a success.Initially two CNG buses would run from the Haji Camp bus stop to Hayatabad Township.

The fare is the same as fixed by the government for other public transport vehicles, which is Rs6 per stop, said Mohammad Naeem, owner of the City Transport Service which has provided the busses.The number of buses would be increased to eight in six months after success of the service. “We have hired educated women conductors who will be serving the women commuters,” he said.

A young woman bus conductor, present at the ceremony, said she was educated up to intermediate level and would try to do her duty in a better way.District Nazim Ghulam Ali said the district government was trying to provide all facilities to its citizens and the CNG bus service would be a good facility for women commuters.

The participants were taken on a bus ride after the inauguration. One of the women participants said it was a comfortable ride.

Future Of LRMTS is Uncertain

Punjab government sources pointed out in a dejected tone that the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has put the project of Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System (LRMTS) on the backburner despite a heavy spending of Rs 1.0 billion on its designing by the previous government of Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi.

Instead of asking for speed up the development work, according to the sources, the Punjab Chief Minister has directed an evaluation of the project before proceeding any further on the project. Fears are getting high with every passing day that the spending of Rs 1 billion from the public exchequer would go unnoticed if such unnecessary delays are attributed to the fate of the project.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had himself initiated the idea of LRMTS back in 1996-99. However, further development took place the regime of Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi. Now when the policy makers are pulling a long over shelving of the LRMTS, the Chief Minister Punjab has initiated another Rs 50 billion idea of Lahore-Rawalpindi Elevated Express Highway while desiring from the infrastructure planners to put all their energies to make it a success story.

It may be noted that the Punjab government is already executing Rs 100 billion Ring Road project, a major spending of which is again on the provincial capital.Therefore, a total spending of about Rs 150 billion on developing infrastructure of Lahore and areas adjacent to it has resulted into a deep sense of deprivation among under developed regions of the province. The planning developers of the province are of the view that one major reason behind this deprivation is the highly selfish approach of the public representatives from those regions.

It is worth noting here that the road development fund allocated for the whole Punjab for 2008-09 is Rs 18 billion, out of which Rs 13 billion is to be spent on maintenance and repairing of existing roads, Rs 2 billion for new roads and Rs 3 billion to appease the MNAs and MPAs.

Punjab Upbeat on Major Investment from China

LAHORE, Nov 24: Punjab expects a huge Chinese investment in the province as a result of the 19 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) the provincial government has signed with various Chinese companies for joint ventures.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told a press conference here on Monday, a day after his return from China, that talks were held for setting up an industrial estate of Chinese companies in Sheikhupura.

The sectors identified for joint ventures are fertilizer production, power generation, infrastructure development, waste water management and dairy farming, he said, adding a meeting would be held on Wednesday (tomorrow) to form committees for each sector to materialize the MoUs.

Chinese engineers would also visit Punjab to see possibilities for drip irrigation system in arid areas of Cholistan, he said, adding they had been offered land on 30-year lease for agricultural projects as 20 parties had shown interest in this respect.Infrastructure projects like Lahore Expressway, Lahore Ring Road and Lahore Mass Transit system were also identified for investment while a Chinese company also expressed interest in real estate development, the chief minister said. Work on one such project would soon start.

Shahbaz Woos Chinese Companies, Investors

CHIEF Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the provincial government has prepared a comprehensive package of incentives for Chinese companies for investment in Punjab and complete protection as well as a favourable atmosphere will be made available to Chinese entrepreneurs in the province.

According to a handout, speaking at the inauguration of Investment Council of major investors of mega companies and traders in Jiangsu province on Thursday, he said that maximum facilities would be provided in this regard and due to conducive and safe atmosphere available in Punjab, they could complete their projects in a proper manner.

Identifying the projects for mutual cooperation in various sectors, the chief minister said that the government had planned a number of projects of infrastructure development including construction of an elevated expressway, Ring Road and mass transit system in the provincial metropolis for coping with the traffic problems.

Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif assured that an attractive rate of return would be offered to the Chinese companies and investors in Punjab. He said that the government was utilizing all available resources for increasing literacy rate for the provision of a skilled workforce. The Chinese companies, which participated in the Investment Council, specialize in power generation, solar energy, wind energy, road construction, garments and textile, manufacturing of CNG buses, real estate and construction.

Addressing the investors, the chief minister said that Punjab has vast iron and coal reserves, which could be used for steel production and power generation and he during his visit had invited a major Chinese construction and engineering firm to help in the excavation of these reserves. He said that Punjab has valuable land and besides industrial and trade projects, planning was also being made for development of housing schemes.

He asked the investors to extend cooperation to the Punjab government in the implementation of these projects and an investment strategy could be worked out with mutual consultation for the implementation of these projects. Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharife said that Punjab needed cooperation of Chinese investors in power generation, CNG buses, real estate and textile sectors.

He said that joint ventures with China could help promote industrial and trade relations. Two MoUs were also signed at the inauguration of the Council with leading companies of Jiangsu for different development projects in Punjab including cooperation in the construction of Rawalpindi Expressway and Ring Road in Lahore.

Shahbaz Holds Wide-Ranging Cooperation Talks in Beijing Including Lahore Mass Transit

BEIJING, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is heading a delegation on a visit to China, said here on Tuesday that his government wanted to introduce the drip irrigation technology to bring large desert areas under cultivation.

Talking to a delegation headed by the director general of the National Centre for Efficient Irrigation Engineering and Technology Research, Mr Huang Yaoxin, Mr Sharif said he planned to bring a large part of desert areas in Cholistan and Bahawalpur under cultivation by introducing drip irrigation. Mr Yaoxin informed him that the system was working successfully in his country.Mr Sharif invited a delegation of the company to Punjab to explore the possibility of implementing the project on fast track.

Mr Yaoxin informed the chief minister that the drip irrigation system was suitable for growing cotton, fruit, wheat and other crops.He said that in Xinjiang over one million hectares of land was being cultivated using this system.During a meeting with the president of the China State Construction and Engineering group, Mr Sharif sought CSCE’s help in implementing projects including Rawalpindi Expressway, housing schemes, Lahore Mass Transit System and extraction of iron ore and coal from newly discovered sites in Punjab.

Later, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation was signed with the company.Another protocol was signed with the China National Chemical Engineering Group for cooperation in fertiliser, power generation, mining, infrastructure development and waste water management.

Also on Tuesday, the China Development Bank assured Mr Sharif that it would provide financial assistance in energy and other projects.At a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister, CDB president Chenyuan expressed interest in various projects and in the development of agriculture sector.

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Wow....... I am surpried that CM is still considering this project........ Great , but how can he accomodate both Lahore Mass Transit and the Elevated Express Ways at the same time.

Lahore Mass Transit Project May Not be Implemented

From the Following News, it is clear the Mr. Sharif is bent upon making the Lahore Expressway project and ultimately this means no more Mass Transit Project. Indeed Tragic.

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LAHORE PUNJAB

Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed that timely and quality completion of all developmental projects should be ensured besides expediting the pace of ongoing projects. He said the construction work of Rawalpindi Express Way with a sum of Rs. 20 billion had been started whereas express way would be constructed on the same pattern in Lahore.

Maximum entry and exit points will be constructed for the convenience of the citizens, he added. He was presiding over a high level meeting held to review the pace of implementation of various developmental projects in the province on Saturday. The meeting was also attended by Chief Engineer GHQ Lt. Gen. Shahid Niaz, Chairman Task Force Kh. Ahmad Hassan, Chairman Task Force Horticulture Mustafa Kamal, Chairman P&D, Secretary C&W, Director General LDA, DCO Lahore, MD NESPAK and Director General PHA.

Addressing the meeting, Main Shahbaz Sharif said the government had initiated mega developmental projects in the province for the improvement of infrastructure as well as providing better transport facilities to the masses. He said these projects would be completed within the stipulated time and in transparent manner.

He directed setting up maximum entry and exit points for smooth flow of traffic on Rawalpindi Express Way so that people could benefit form this project. He directed the constitution of a committee comprising representatives of FWO, Secretary C&W and Chairman P&D for removal of hurdles as well as timely completion of this project. He said the feasibility report was being prepared for construction of Express Way in Lahore which would cost Rs. 42 billion. He said he would talk to the Chinese investor for this mega project during his visit there.

The chief minister directed that WASA and other departments should complete their work before the construction of roads in Lahore, as permission of digging would not be granted to any department after the completion of roads. He said the FWO would lay down the sewerage on these roads. He directed that the construction work of the roads of walled-city should be started from next Monday.

Directing acceleration of the pace of construction work of Shalimar flyover, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz said maximum construction work of all the projects, including Shalimar Flyover, should be carried out at night as well so that these projects could be completed within the stipulated time. He directed that installation of 70 new tube-wells in Lahore should be completed within the next two months.

The meeting also reviewed the pace of implementation of various development projects including Muree Road, Adiyala Road and Dipalpur Road. The IG Police Punjab was directed during the meeting to take immediate measures for handing over the Mughalpura Police Station and adjacent police building to the concerned departments for carrying out construction work. Earlier, Chief Engineer Lt. Gen.

Shahid Niaz informed the meeting about the details of implementation on various developmental projects being completed by FOW.

Erfurt - Another German Beautiful City of Mass Transit

I visited Erfurt and saw the beautiful tram running there.... wow that is the future.

The Beautiful Karachi

Its heartening to see Karachi getting its Lights back ..... way to go

Elevated Expressway to Make Lahore Rapid Mass Transit Project Obsolete

NESPAK official says project execution would require international firm with good track record
* TEPA official says LRMT of greater social utility
* Steering committee chairman says available funding will be considered

By Mansab Dogar

LAHORE: The Punjab government’s plan to construct an elevated expressway from Kainchi Stop to the Niazi Interchange will render the Lahore Rapid Mass Transit (LRMT) project obsolete, said experts associated with the project.

The experts told Daily Times that the elevated expressway is estimated to cost Rs 40 – 50 billion while the LRMT project would have cost the government about three billion dollars. A National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) official said that the department had prepared a feasibility of the expressway, which will be presented to the government soon. According to the report, the expressway will have two lanes on both sides, and would be supported with pillars erected on the greenbelt running down the middle of the Ferozepur Road. He added that a couple of unavoidable linkages would be provided, which have not been determined yet.

International: The official maintained that the project was very practical and would cost about Rs 50 billion. He said that only international firms with a good track records could execute the project with limited local expertise. If this project is completed, there is very little chance that the LRMT will ever be undertaken, he added.

Utility: A Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) official associated with the LRMT project said that the LRMT project was better as it benefited commuters more than car owners, adding that the elevated expressway was designed to facilitate private vehicle owners. However, he admitted that as far as cost effectiveness was concerned, the expressway was far cheaper and would be completed much faster than the LRMT project, which would take at least another five years.

Funding: Lahore Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase-II Steering Committee Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassan said that the committee was waiting for a presentation on the expressway project, adding that the utility of both projects for the city would be evaluated before any final decision was taken. He said that the LRMT was undoubtedly a larger project in terms of monetary expenditures, adding that the availability of funding for either project would also be taken into account.

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Dear Chief Minister ...... Please, please, please dont abondon the Lahore Mass Transit Project. Please do consider the ADB assistance and lot of money being spent on this project in making its feasibiltiy. Please dont think that this project was started by previous government and its should be given up. Please

Dubai Metro Inaugurated

So at Last the Dubai Metro Project started at last wonderful. The video of inauguration is available at the following link.

http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=249b9ef38a08c110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=063e4c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=video&videoId=249b9ef38a08c110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD

Punjab may request Japanese help for Lahore Mass Transit Project & Khanki Dama: CM

* Shahbaz identifies provision of better health facilities as top priority
* Says security, economic problems biggest issues facing country
* Chihiro says Japan can benefit from investment in Pakistan

Staff Report

LAHORE: Japan has excellent expertise in constucting dams and the Punjab government wants to seek their help to construct the Khanki Dam, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told Japanese Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi on Tuesday.

Shahbaz informed the guest of his priorities regarding the elimination of poverty, provision of health and education and various other basic facilities.

Relations: He said that the ties between Japan and Pakistan spanned over many decades, adding that Japan had always helped Pakistan with provision of financial and technical assistance. He said that the Punjab government would welcome any delegation sent by Japan to explore the possibility of co-operation between the two countries. He said that construction of small dams and water reservoirs for the promotion of agriculture was of immense importance, adding that Punjab could greatly benefit from Japanese skills in this sector.

He said that Japan could also help in the improvement of the sewerage system, solid waste management and Lahore Rail Mass Transit project for the provision of better transport facilities. He said that there were also opportunities for the installation of hydroelectric power plants under public and private partnerships. He said that he had visited Japan a long time ago as a businessman and was deeply impressed with the skills possessed by the Japanese nation. He said that his top priority was the provision of better health facilities to the people, adding that revolutionary measures had been taken in this sector. He said that Japan could extend co-operation in the provision of health, education and transport facilities.

He said that Pakistan was facing several challenges, of which security and economic problems were the most difficult to handle. He said that the country had always condemned terrorism and extremism and was itself a victim of this menace. He said that the country maintained a clear stance on eradication of terrorism, adding that the government would always give preference to the option of dialogue over the use of force. He said that the removal of deprivations, economic disparities, provision of prompt justice, health and education facilities, improvement of infrastructure and good governance were essential for this.

Ambassador: Chihiro said that Pakistan was a trustworthy friend of Japan and Japan was keen to further strengthen ties with the country. He said that the Japanese company, JICA, was playing an important role in providing the water supply and drainage, irrigation and economic activities in Punjab. He said that Pakistan had vast opportunities of investment and Japan would further promote mutual relations with the country to benefit from these opportunities as well as to continue its co-operation in various sectors. He said that bilateral relations between the two countries were improving with the passage of time

Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System: Pakistan asked to Complete PPP Transaction

FAISALABAD (October 06 2008): Asian Development Bank has asked the Government to complete Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transaction for Private Sector Concession by October 2009, while ADB multi-tranche financing facility loan will be approved for public sector investment by December 2008 for Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System Project.

According to official sources, the Government understands that developing the Lahore RMTS with a PPP would provide an opportunity to improve the overall efficiency of the system. A PPP provides the Government with an opportunity to efficiently allocate risks between the Government and specialised private firms.

This means that risks will be controlled and influenced by the party that is best placed to control and influence these risks.

A PPP, however, would not make sense for the Government or private sector if either party were bearing risks that are better handled by the other. This means that a well-structured PPP is essential to achieve the objectives expected from a PPP.

ADB experts citing examples of key issues that need to be resolved as part of structuring a PPP transaction, include the following:

(i) Public versus private funding. The passenger fares that the Government plans to charge for the green line will not cover the full cost of building, operating, and maintaining the line. The Government will need to subsidise a portion of the capital costs. What portion would be funded by the Government, where would these funds come from, and how would these funds be paid are key issues to be resolved.

(ii) Ridership risk. While the Government should bear part of the ridership risk, the private operator should also have incentives to maximise ridership. Thus the private operator should bear a portion of the ridership risk. What portion and under what terms are key issues to be resolved.

Prior to consideration of ADB project financing, ADB should update project reports mentioned. Engagement of a transaction advisor is required to formulate financial structuring, undertake detailed due diligence, and package the Lahore RMTS to attract private capital and management.

The transaction advisor, in close consultation with ADB and the Government, will help prepare and launch a PPP transaction for the green line. ADB is willing, in principle, to partly finance the public-sector-financed portion of the Project under the multi-tranche financing facility modality.

ADB experts disclosed that the transaction advisory work will be carried out in three phases: preparation, implementation, and negotiation. During the preparation phase, the transaction advisor will carry out technical and legal due diligence, design the detailed structure and terms of the transaction, market the transaction with potential investors, and develop prequalification and bidding documents as well as the necessary contracts.

During implementation, the transaction advisor will assist the Government in obtaining any approvals and permits required, pre-qualifying potential investors, carrying out the bidding process, evaluating proposals, awarding the contract, and holding negotiations with lenders. During the negotiation, the transaction advisor will support the Government and winning bidder reach financial closure.

PHASE I, TRANSACTION PREPARATION:

The transaction preparatory work will include technical, legal, regulatory, financial, and safeguards due diligence in support of the proposed transaction. The transaction advisor will lead efforts to market the transaction, including tasks such as (i) preparation of initial marketing document, an information memorandum, and presentations; (ii) preparation of a list of investors that have the qualifications and experience to be the project counterpart; and (iii) consultations with potential investors and lenders to share information about the Lahore RMTS. The transaction advisor will also advise on progress made in preparing the transaction; and review feedback on the design of the transaction. International road shows may be required.

Phase II, Transaction Implementation

The transaction advisor will assist the Government in obtaining or issuing the necessary permits or approvals needed for implementing the transaction for the Project. These might include approval to (i) create and fund a subsidy account, (ii) issue a government guarantee, and (iii) launch prequalification and bidding process. The transaction advisor will assist the Government in (i) issuing the request for prequalification, responding to questions from interested parties, evaluating the expressions of interest, and selecting a short list of firms; (ii) issuing the request for proposals and responding to questions from bidders; and (iii) assessing the legal compliance of the proposals, evaluating the quality of the technical proposals and competitiveness of the financial proposals, and making an award decision.

PHASE III, NEGOTIATIONS:

Following the award of the contract to a bidder, financial closure for the transaction will require several months. During this period, the transaction advisor will assist the prospective lenders of the winning bidder in carrying out their credit analysis and, to the extent needed, assist the Government in negotiating with these lenders.

It may be recalled that the investment cost of the TA project, to finance the recruitment of transaction advisor, is estimated at $7.5 million equivalent, including foreign exchange costs of $6.0 million and local currency costs of $1.5 million equivalent. The TA will improve the urban rapid mass transportation network in Lahore. The outcome of the TA is a structured design for the Lahore RMTS Project feasible for ADB financing.

Mass Transit Body Likely to Create PPP-MQM rift

KARACHI, Sept 24: In a move that may create another rift between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the government of Sindh has established a Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) under the provincial finance department.

A notification in this regard was issued some 10 days ago, and Dawn has learnt from well-placed sources neither the Karachi city government nor the provincial transport department was consulted beforehand.Additionally, the Sindh government has appointed senior official Mukhtar Ahmed Soomro as the managing director of the new provincial body.

The sources said that the SMTA has been put under the administrative control of the Sindh finance department instead of the transport department, since the finance department is already handling the Karachi Mega City Development Project (KMCDP), funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), under which the bank will provide a $600 million loan for the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit System.“The transport department and the Karachi city government do not have the capacity to manage the mass transit authority,” said the source.

“However, it will eventually be put under control of the provincial transport department.”The MQM and the city government which it dominates were opposed to the setting up of a provincial mass transit body. The issue came up for discussion during a London meeting between MQM chief Altaf Hussain and President Asif Ali Zardari, during which the president gave an assurance that a decision would be taken only after consultation with all stakeholders.

The sources also referred to a meeting in Islamabad attended by the Sindh chief minister, ministers belonging to the PPP and the MQM, and the nazims of Karachi and Hyderabad, during which President Zardari stated categorically that mass transit should remain within the domain of the city government, since it was not part of the provincial government’s job.

The notification regarding the establishment of the SMTA was reportedly issued before President Zardari’s meeting with ministers of the Sindh cabinet, and it has not yet been withdrawn. Except for the chief minister of Sindh and his daughter, who heads the Sindh finance department, no one knows exactly what the terms of reference of the new body are, or who its members are, maintained the sources.

Reportedly, the terms of reference for the SMTA are to be determined through an ordinance or act passed by the provincial assembly. “It remains unclear whether or not the new body will deal with the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway given the existence of the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation, which was formed for the sole purpose of the circular railway’s revival,” said a source.

“The SMTA was set up primarily to utilise the proposed $600 million ADB loan under the Karachi Mega City Development Project, for implementing the bus rapid transit system and conducting a study on light rapid transit,” the sources informed Dawn.City government’s role minimizedIt is widely believed that the provincial government’s move is aimed at minimising the city government’s role in the Karachi Mega City Development Project and transport projects for the city, for the government of Sindh has already decided not to avail itself of ADB loan facilities for water, sewerage and other projects.

It was initially decided that the ADB’s main investment loan would cover priority projects that included water, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, the up-gradation of informal settlements, roads and transport. After the Feb 18 general elections and the establishment of a PPP-led government in Sindh, however, it was decided that the full ADB loan would be diverted towards the transport sector.

During his budget speech, in fact, the Sindh chief minister – who also holds the finance portfolio – stated that the ADB-funded Karachi Mega City Development Project was being upgraded and would specifically attend to mass transit needs, including light rail.The negotiations to secure financial assistance from the ADB were initiated during the tenure of the earlier government. According to Dawn’s sources, the ADB expressed willingness to extend a $800 million loan for the launch of the mega city development project, which would increase Karachi’s economic potential, strengthen its functioning and improve living conditions.

The ADB believed that the project would provide resources for the city government, the town municipal administrations and utilities that would enable improvements in their planning, management and financing, and in applying commercial principles in the provision of infrastructure and services.ADB funding for mass transit aloneIn the first phase, the bank extended a $13 million loan for technical assistance in carrying out studies in various sectors including water, sewerage and transport.

The ADB loan covers 75 per cent of the Karachi Mega City Development Project’s total estimated cost of $13.330 million, and carries a 32-year term, including a grace period of eight years. Interest is to be charged at 1 per cent per annum during the grace period, and at 1.5 per cent thereafter. The government contributes the balance of the equivalent of $3.33 million.

The mega city development project was being supervised through two offices, the Project Support Unit (PSU) administered by the Sindh Finance Department, and the Local Support Unit (LSU) administered by the Karachi city government. The PSU is the executing agency while the LSU is the project’s implementing agency.Sources said that the LSU has already conducted various studies with the technical assistance loan, almost all of which have been completed.

These studies included the development of IT platforms for tracking and maintaining the systems of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, a study on the construction of a Malir Bund Road, and another on forestation and aesthetic plantation in the city.In the meantime, however, the provincial government decided that it did not need the ADB’s assistance in the sectors of water, sewerage and the up-gradation of informal settlements, and that it wanted the bank to extend a main investment loan for the transport sector alone.

The sources maintained that the government of Sindh also decided to seek $600 million from the ADB instead of the $800 million sought earlier for the launch of the Bus Rapid Transit System and the Light Rapid Transit. “The ADB will also extend financial assistance for the implementation of the Light Rapid Transit,” a senior official told Dawn.

The sources said that the final talks to obtain the $600 million main investment ADB loan begin next month. After the agreement is signed, the first tranche of around $250 million is expected to be released within two to three months. “The government is in the process of winding up the Project Support Unit and the Local Support Unit, and of forming a Programme Reform Monitoring Unit and a Project Implementation Unit,” said a source. “Winding up the Local Support Unit means ending the Karachi city government’s role in the project.”

President Agreed in Principle to Give Karachi Mass Transit Project Back to CDGK

KarachiThe issue of the Karachi Mass Transit Project has taken another turn after President Asif Ali Zardari agreed in principle with the City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) stance that mass transit was an “urban issue” and should be handled and implemented by the city authorities.

Sources privy to a meeting held in Islamabad disclosed that President Zardari listened to Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal’s stance and agreed that the mass transit project should be implemented by the CDGK. The meeting was attended by Sindh cabinet members from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), as well as the City Nazims of Karachi and Hyderabad Sources said, however, said that no final decision in this regard was taken at the discussion and the President asked the provincial government to clarify and present its case as to why it wanted to form the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA), and take over the Karachi Mass Transit Project.

It is worth mentioning here that the Sindh government had decided to create SMTA on the grounds that it was the demand of the donor agency — the Asian Development Bank (ADB) — to have a central authority to carry out the mega project.On the other hand, senior CDGK officials refuted the provincial government claims saying the ADB had imposed no such condition and it was “very comfortable” with the CDGK and had been negotiating with it for last three years over the project.

“Instead, it was the present provincial government which sent a delegation to the ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines, requesting them that they wanted to create a provincial authority. The provincial government also requested a cut in the ADB loan for the mass transit project (from US$800 million to US$550 million or US$600 million),” CDGK officials claimed.They further said that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had himself negotiated with the ADB for the US$800 million loan for the provincial government, which in turn had to be given to the CDGK as a grant for four different mega projects.

But after the taking over of PPP-led provincial government in Sindh, the provincial government negotiated with the ADB for the loan, calling for its deduction to USD 550 or 600 million and said the entire amount would be spent on the Karachi mass transit project.شّžCDGK agreed on spending the entire amount on mass transit but when provincial government conveyed CDGK of creating the provincial mass transit authority to implement the project, city Nazim raised this issue with the president in a meeting on Wednesdayشّž they informed, adding that the president had accepted CDGKشّžs point of view on this issue.

The CDGK officials, however, made it clear that no final decision had been taken or instructions issued to the provincial government by the president and instead, the provincial government was asked to clarify its position.On the other hand, the provincial government officials said no decision as to give mass transit back to the CDGK was taken at the meeting with the president, arguing it was the demand of the ADB as well as other stakeholders to create a central authority to implement the project.شّž

Everybody knows that the CDGK or any other district government in the country cannot initiate and complete such a mega project. There are many other agencies and institutions involved in the project and they can only be handled by a central authorityشّž they argued.

Critics and observers monitoring the situation said the rift between the provincial and city governments over the issue could further delay the project, as so far the donor agency Asian Development Bank was confused about the implementing authority as well as the amount needed for the project.

‘Govt must Improve Urban Bus Services to Resolve Traffic Issues’

* Speakers claim city will face ‘grave’ traffic issues by 2015

* Former mayor of Colombian town says raising taxes will discourage cars

* CM Task Force (Transport Development) Chairman Tasneem Noorani stresses need for separate department to run public transport

LAHORE: The government must promote and improve urban bus services to discourage the use of cars in cities, as it will help resolve traffic problems currently faced by commuters, according to speakers at a seminar on ‘Sustainable Urban Development and Transportation’.Jointly organised by The Urban Unit of the Planning and Development Department and the Clinton Foundation at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday, the speakers at the seminar stressed the need for the provision of equal rights to citizens of all cities with regard to traffic facilities.

The government must ensure separate lanes for buses while constructing new roads, they said, adding that bicyclists should be encouraged in cities.Claim: The speakers claimed that there would be grave traffic jams across the city by 2015 if its infrastructure were not radically improved, adding that the masses should be encouraged to travel by bus. Former mayor of Bogota and renowned urban strategist Enrique Penalosa and United States Institute of Transportation and Development Project (ITDP) Senior Director Oscar Diaz provided detailed lectures through feature films about the transport systems of various countries.

The chief guest, Penalosa said, “We cannot term a city with numerous vehicles as a model city but the city. Such a city is one where a child can travel on his bicycle easily and safely.”Taxes: In this connection, he said, the government should construct separate routes for cyclists and pedestrians, and would have to discourage the use of cars by raising their taxes.

The government must take measures to provide better air-conditioned bus services to the masses so that they do not hesitate while travelling on them, he added. Oscar Diaz said that separate lanes for buses on all roads were necessary to successfully run the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT).

The fares should be easily affordable and everyone must have easy access to the bus stations, he said, citing that 1.4 million people travel under the BRT system everyday in Bogota, while only 21 percent use personal cars.Separate: While talking to reporters, CM Task Force (Transport Development) Chairman Tasneem Noorani stressed the need to establish a separate department to run public transport.

He said the task force would work on the new transport system as suggested by the speakers at the seminar and submit a proposal to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for approval.Senior traffic police officials and other experts also addressed the seminar, which was attended by a large number of people hailing from different walks of life. app/staff report

Karachi Circular Railway among 51 Projects approved

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The government approved on Thursday 51 projects, including revival of the Karachi Circular Railway and construction of Cherah dam.The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), which met here with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Salman Faruqi in the chair, approved 42 new projects costing Rs237.7 billion.

The cost of nine projects was revised to Rs24.7 billion from Rs14 billion.In its first meeting of the current fiscal year, the CDWP approved Rs262.4 billion for the projects.The KCR project is expected to be executed in three years at a cost of Rs52.372 billion with a foreign component of Rs39.257 billion.The 50 km railway project will have 21 underpasses and overhead bridges and 23 stations in the city.

The Circular Railway would carry 700,000 passengers daily through 246 trains.Planning Commission Spokesman Asif Shaikh told newsmen that the foreign funding component for the projects was Rs91.2 billion.He said 32 projects of Rs238 billion related to infrastructure and 19 projects of Rs24.4 billion to social sector with foreign components of Rs30.81 billion and Rs9.90 billion, respectively

He said that the cost of 22 projects was over Rs500 million. The projects costing Rs255.50 billion were referred to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council for approval.He said 46 projects of Rs218.40 billion would be financed by the federal government, while 18 projects in Punjab, including 13 of the Multan Package costing Rs500 million, would be financed by the provincial government.

Plan Being Made to Convert Buses to CNG

There is a dire need of plying at least 1,500 CNG buses on the city routes to make the environment pollution free as diesel-fuelled buses have been creating serious environment concerns for a long time in the provincial metropolis.

While talking to The News, official sources in the Transport department said that the government was devising a strategy to convert all the diesel-run buses to CNG-run ones, and for that purpose the government had already opened bid and called the transport owners to participate in the project as they would be given 25 per cent subsidy on the purchase of the CNG buses.

The sources said that the provincial government would carry out the project in the whole of Punjab and almost 3,000 CNG buses would be brought on the major city routes in this regard. They said that the government would not succumb to the pressure of the transport owners for any further increase in the fares of the public transport vehicles. They said that the government had already increased fares twice in the same year and by increasing the fares again, the government would not add to the troubles of the people.

On Tuesday, the transport owners had started receiving extra fares in the as the government increased the price of diesel by Rs 3.50 per litre while the provincial government had fixed Rs 12 on the first stage according to the fares list.However, there were many instances in which wrangling occurred between the transport owners and the commuters in the city as the former charged Rs 15 on the first stage while referring to the increase in the diesel price.

While talking to The News, the representatives of the Urban Transport Union said that the treatment of the government towards the transport owners was not fair, as it had already stopped subsidy given to them due to the unprecedented rise in the diesel price.The said the government had also fixed the fares of the public transport vehicles without considering the financial problems of the transport owners.

PTA secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal while talking to The News said that the provincial government had been making efforts to provide quality transportation to the masses while taking requirements of environment into consideration as the diesel-fuelled buses cause pollution. To a question whether the PTA would increase the fares as the transport owners were demanding it in the wake of up to 6.2 per cent (Rs 3.50 per litre) hike in the prices of the diesel, he said the provincial government would not make the masses suffer while increasing the fares according to the wishes of the transport owners.

He said that the PTA had already enhanced the fares of the public transport vehicles twice in a year since the prices of petroleum products had seen an unprecedented hike in the international oil market. The PTA would not increase the fares of the public transport vehicles unless the government had to raise the diesel prices for meeting the financial gap.

He said that the government was mulling to change all the existing diesel-run transport vehicles into the CNG ones in a bid to create a healthy environment. He said that there were 22 routes in the city where the public transport vehicles were not being plied and the Transport department had asked the transport owners to bring new buses for these routes.He said there were six transport owners, who had shown willingness to ply new buses on these routes. While talking about the over-charging of fares by the transport owners, he said that the government would not show any laxity to punish those transport owners who were over-charging on the city routes.

He said that special teams were formed to check the fares being charged from the commuters by the transport owners on different routes and the department had fined a large number of the transport owners over violation of the fares list, which had already been fixed by the officials of the department. Over the issue of the purchase of the CNG buses by the transport owners, he said that the provincial government would give 25 per cent subsidy to the transport owners and the rest of the amount would be paid by them and the provincial government would not make any other financial arrangements for the transport owners.

CDA Yet to Finalise RMTS, CNG Bus Service Projects

ISLAMABAD: Traffic problems in the federal capital are increasing with each passing day but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is still planning to launch Rapid Mass Transit System (RMTS) and CNG bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The CDA started work on launching RMTS and CNG buses projects few months ago to provide better transport facilities to the people, but they could not give final shape to these projects so far. According to the CDA sources, the transport problems would increase in the city further in near future, as the CDA’s relevant directorate had not yet completed documentary work of these much-awaited projects.

The sources said one the hand the CDA was not properly working on the proposed projects while on the other currently there was no organised transport service operating between the twins cites. Private transport was the major mean of mobility between the two cities, they said, adding minibuses and vans were plying on 16 routes within and between the tow cities.

A survey conducted by Daily Times revealed that due to negligence on part of the authorities concerned the commuters, including government servants working in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have to face hardship twice a day – first in the morning and then in the evening. The drivers and conductors of the public transport usually misbehave with commuters, as there is no schedule for minibuses and vans to reach from one point to another.

They keep their vehicles waiting for a long time at every stop resulting in exchange of harsh words between commuters and them.Momin Agha, Director of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), told Daily Times that his directorate was working on the plan to launch CNG bus service but it will take time

Enrique Penalosa Meets City Nazim Karachi for Bus Rapid Mass Transit System

The former mayor of Bogot·, Columbia, Enrique Penalosa called on City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at his office on Tuesday and offered all possible assistance and support in having a Bus Rapid Transit System in Karachi on the pattern of the Columbian capital.

Penalosa, who is now a consultant of Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), had a discussion with Kamal about the implementation of the same system in Karachi. He said this system was running successfully in Bogot· and he and his team would provide all possible technical cooperation for successful implementation of the same in Karachi.

The former Bogot· mayor also extended an invitation to the city Nazim for an official visit to Bogot· so that he could personally assess the system there. He further said it was a better system in the mass transit system and he hoped that the bus rapid transport system would prove successful in Karachi due to the availability of wide roads.

Kamal said that the government was working on the introduction of bus rapid transport system in Karachi with the coordination of Asian Development Bank.“In the first phase”, he said “three corridors have been selected in Karachi while the system will bring in other parts of the city later on.

8 Billion dollars at stake as Pakistan People's Party government Shows Lack of Interest Mass Transit System

The expected foreign investment of nearly eight billion US dollars in the Lahore Mass Transit System is reportedly at stake due to the lack of interest in the project on part of the Punjab government.

Sources claimed on Sunday that the elevated expressway being proposed by the government, instead of the mass transit system, had been opposed by the Middle Eastern group building a $800 million multi-purpose commercial centre on Ferozepur Road. The group has reportedly conveyed to the government, “we are out if it (elevated expressway project) is taken up.”Sources also claimed that the group had synchronised the commercial centre with the underground rail system, and the overhead expressway did not suit them.

Everything was ready early this year for launching the first phase of the project involving Rs1.4 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank, and an expected $1 billion direct investment from the private sector. But, the government’s priorities appear to have changed.

The project was conceived in 2004, and $9 million had been spent on getting prepared its detailed feasibility and reference design. The ADB, which had agreed to advance the soft loan for the project, too had spent a lot of money in getting the feasibility reports verified through its own international sources.“The ADB which was about to fund the project is considering to put it on hold,” the sources said.

According to the sources, after the completion of the basic homework early this year, both the previous government and the ADB were expecting that physical work on the project would begin by April or May 2009. And keeping this in view the bank had started seeking transition advisors from the international market.They added the leading international financial institutions had shown interest in becoming the transition advisors, and the ADB wanted the provincial government to now make institutional arrangements for executing the project.

The sources said the government, however, did not make any institutional arrangements which also proved a turn-off for those showing interest in becoming the transition advisors, making them move away from it.They said under the project, said to be having a 100-year investment potential, the city was to be given a modern train system in four phases.

In the first phase, expected to be started early next year, the Punjab government was to build tunnels, viaducts and stations at a cost of $1.4 billion to be provided by the ADB in the shape of a 32-year loan. Another $1 billion direct investment was expected to come through the private sector, which was required to build the system, bring rails and run them on BoT basis for 15 to 20 years.The project was estimated to bring in $8 billion, half of which in the shape of direct foreign investment. “But it looks the government is not interested in it,” the sources said.

They said the government was abandoning the project at a time when even cities having three million population were being given mass transit metro systems. Delhi was having its third such system, which was also being given to Bombay and Bangalore because it was reliable, decent, and economically viable.The sources claimed that the economic rate of return of the Lahore’s mass transit system was 13.5 per cent.

The system was expected to change the fate of Lahore along with its more than seven million people by giving the city a modern transport system, besides badly needed jobs.Pointing out flaws in the elevated expressway the government reportedly intended to give to the city covering Lower Mall and the Ferozepur Road, the sources wondered from where the funds awould come for it.

“They (express ways) have been discredited all over the world because they create urban blight. And their construction means the city is losing all chances to go underground forever,” the claimed.

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We have all expectation from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and I think he knows the importance of this project. Hope for the materialization of this project.

CNG Buses: Plan to be Based on 80 : 20 Debt Equity Ratio

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Programme for 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses would be based on a 80:20 debt equity ratio.The official working paper on the project available with Daily Times reveals that the cost each bus would come up to Rs 3.6 million, however, due to the recent depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, the final price may end up higher than this figure.

A loan of Rs 2.9 million per bus would be available from designated banks with 10 percent interest rate payable in five years and the government would pick up 100 percent payment of interest in 60 installments. According to the paper, the federal cabinet in its decision taken on July 16, 2008 approved the launch of 8,000 CNG buses for efficient, environment-friendly and affordable public transport in nine mega cities of the country namely Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi/Islamabad.

Call to Expedite Operation of CNG Buses in Mega Cities

ISLAMABAD (September 12 2008): Minister for Environment, Hamidullah Jan Afridi on Thursday directed the concerned ministries and departments to expedite the operation of CNG buses in mega cities.

Afridi who is also Chairman of the Steering Committee on CNG buses, directed all concerned to start the project at the earliest to the benefit of people through Prime Minister's cheaper transport program."Provision of cheaper and environment friendly CNG buses to masses is part of the program approved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan," he said, and reminded the stakeholders for speedy implementation. He was presiding over the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee on Prime Minister Programme for CNG buses.

Minister for Environment directed the Ministry of Finance to take banks on board to ensure timely loaning facility to the private operators throughout the country for this purpose. The minister also directed the concerned quarters to seek the co-operation of the private sector for high pressure CNG filling stations in the cities where CNG buses would operate.

He directed that Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) should establish high pressure CNG stations as a pilot project in these cities. The minister said that a uniform policy would be adopted for establishing the project management units for the operation of these buses in the all four provinces.

The minister asked the provinces to submit their demand for buses to operate in the specified cities and the committee will decide about the number of buses to be operated in particular cities.Joint Secretary (Development) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Tahmoor Azmat Usman informed the Steering Committee that the matter of provision of CNG to the private operators in nine mega cities was taken up with the SNGPL and SSGCL who have shown willingness to ensure availability of CNG for the buses project.

The meeting was attended by Khusnood Akhtar Lashari, Secretary Ministry of Environment, MD ENERCON, Transport Minister of Sindh, Secretaries Transport of the provinces, representatives of the relevant ministries and operators of CNG buses.

Bus Train Service Launched

By Fazal SherISLAMABAD: Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) and National Transport Research Centre (NTRC) on Monday launched Friendship Bus Train Service.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, Zubair Hashmi told journalists on the occasion that the service would improve public transport facilities and help reduce traffic problems in the capital city.

He said mostly, commuters from low-income groups would benefit from the service whose route was from Pak Secretariat to G-11. He said stop-to-stop fare for the service had been fixed at Rs 10.He said the 150-seat bus train would consist of three compartments, one for women and two for men.

The SSP (Traffic) said the NTRC had launched the same service 10 years ago but had to abandon it after a short time due to financial constraints.He said the ITP and the NTRC had got repairable vehicles of old service ready for Friendship Bus Train Service. He said the ITP would take care of the service.

He said more vehicles would be put on the city’s different routes in future.Hashmi said the ITP had prepared a plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city during Ramazan.He said traffic policemen would be deployed at all busy intersections and near big mosques in the city during Iftar.He said the ITP had launched a campaign to create awareness of traffic rules among road users.

He said people hampering traffic in fast lanes by driving vehicles slow would be ticketed in future.The SSP (Traffic) said the ITP had begun issuing tickets to motorists found not fastening seatbelt, using cell phone or travelling with high beams on during nighttime.

He said no violators of traffic rules would be spared.Hashmi said fine for not fastening seatbelt was Rs 300 and that for using mobile phone during driving or traveling with high beams on Rs 200.

Agreement Between Daewoo & Pakistani Group for Manufacturing CNG Buses

'Government to Encourage Local Manufacturing of CNG buses'

ISLAMABAD (August 23 2008): The government wanted to encourage local manufacturing of CNG buses so that the project of plying 4000 CNG buses in Karachi meets with success. The Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi said in a high level meeting to discuss the CNG bus project.

The President, National Forum for Environment and Health, M Naeem Qureshi and senior officials were present in the meeting. The Minister said this was a mega project and will take time as scores of issues including the availability of buses and installation of dedicated filling terminals have to be resolved.Provincial governments are the stakeholders and they need to own this project in the long run, he added.

'We want to start it as soon as possible. We also want to promote the local industry and expect local manufacturers to produce CNG buses locally. If they succeed, then there will be no need of importing buses from abroad. The local manufacturers have assured us that they can produce 4000 buses annually,' said Afridi.He further stated that these buses would be environment-friendly and will save foreign exchange paid against import of petroleum products.

A proper infrastructure will be developed for successful plying of CNG buses. 'We need to install high-pressure filling stations to the tanks within five to six minutes,' he added.

Bus Service in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Five firms have been short-listed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to run a bus service in the city on public-private partnership basis, it is learnt.
A CDA official told Dawn on Wednesday that the firms had experience in operating local and inter-city transport and included Daewoo and Varan Tours.

Since the private companies have intimated that they don't consider the venture “lucrative and profitable”, the CDA may have to subsidise the bus service, according to the official.
Originally, the CDA, as the public partner, was to open its roads to the chosen bus company and lease out land to gas station operators, the third partner in the venture, for establishing special CNG filling stations for the bus service.

Earlier this year the Capital Development Authority had selected a firm for operating a CNG-run bus service but the agreement collapsed when CDA refused the firm's demand for land to establish its own CNG station.

“Now the CDA has decided to lease land for the purpose to a third party, not to the bus company,” said a CDA official.

CDA has already notified a board, with government officials and representatives of the public on it, to manage the affairs of the planned public transport system.

“We will definitely put the system in place in four months,” CDA chairman Kamran Lashari reaffirmed to on Dawn Wednesday. He was confident that with the local administration and the Punjab Transport Authority on board it will be a success.

According to Mr Lashari the bus service is a component of the Mass Transit System (MTS) that is in the designing phase.

The MTS comprising buses, mono-trains and underground railway is planned to be a durable solution of the transport problems of the twin cities.

Daewoo and Varan are thought to be the leading bidders in operating the bus service. While the former has experience in operating bus services on inter-city routes, the later had operated buses in Rawalpindi and Islamabad a few years ago before a van operators’ cartel drove in the two cities drove it out of business through court action. However, Varan buses returned to the Rawalpindi roads, with some destinations in Islamabad, recently under new terms offered by the Punjab Transport Authority.

Islamabad has the unenviable distinction of being the only capital in the world which has no proper public transport system, leaving its car-less citizens to the mercy of greedy taxi drivers and van operators.

By international standards the federal capital's one million people should have 500 buses at their service. But the CDA's plan envisages running some 100 buses - with 30 to 40 in the initial stage.

KCR Project to Help Improve Environment

KARACHI (August 17 2008): A meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Environment under the chair of its Chairman, Senator Dr Mohammad Ali Brohi, was held here on Saturday to review a maga project of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) system, a project funded by Japanese company.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of Sindh government, City District Government, Planning Commission, Finance Division and representatives of KCR project During the meeting CNG bus project was also reviewed, for which the PM has already announced to provide five thousand CNG buses in the country.-PR

Latest From Dubai Metro

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority has installed the first footbridge for Dubai Metro station users near Jebel Ali Industrial area on Shaikh Zayed Road.

"A total of 20 footbridges will be installed at metro stations to help people cross the busiest highway in the emirate to ride the metro," said Adnan Al Hammadi, director of construction at the RTA's Rail Agency. He said one bridge will be installed every week on Shaikh Zayed Road. He explained that each of the 47 metro stations will have pedestrian bridges either elevated or underground. The installation work for the pedestrian bridges will be completed by May 2009.

"The footbridges will provide 24-hour, air-conditioned and spacious public thoroughfares along the Red and Green lines of the Dh15.5 billion Dubai Metro Project," said Al Hammadi.

The Dubai Metro, the world's largest driverless metro project, consists of two lines, the Red and the Green. The Red Line is scheduled to be operational from September 9, 2009 while the Green Line will be opened in March 2010.

He said each bridge will feature moving walkways and escalators. The bridges will be open for use by the general public to cross the roads whether they use the metro or not.

According to Al Hammadi, the planning for the installation of the footbridges, which are being provided under the Dubai Metro Contract, has been going on for well over a year now.

A dedicated footbridge installation task force was assigned with heavy involvement from the Dubai Metro Contractor, RTA Rail Agency, RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency and Dubai Police to investigate how to install the footbridges and identify the optimal solution.

The key objective during installation is to minimise disruption to the public, while ensuring that their safety, as well as that of Dubai Metro workers, is not compromised.

The approved installation method involves full pre-assembly of the footbridge including the main structure of the bridge, the external cladding, internal fixtures and finishes, and electrical and mechanical items.

Since the resulting weight of the pre-assembled footbridges is well in excess of 200 tonnes, special self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT's), pneumatic lifting jacks and adjustable temporary bearings will be used to transport the footbridges into position and lift them onto their permanent support.

The installation of each bridge will be done at night during a period of low traffic with traffic control of Shaikh Zayed Road.

I Am In Germany Folks

Dear Readers! I am sorry i was not updating the blog because im moving to Germany and now I am here in Leipzig so want to share some of the wonderful mass transit pics I have seen here and travelling in them.

CNG Buses Import from India Opposed

LAHORE (July 24 2008): Pakistan Auto Parts Exporters Association (Papea) Chairman Tahir Javed Malik has strongly opposed the government decision to import CNG buses from India and said it would kill the domestic auto-parts manufacturing industry.

Talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday, Malik said India was very developed and far ahead of Pakistani industry while at the same time it had given a lot of protections and incentives to its industrial sector.

He demanded of the government to withdraw its decision, saying: "We are unable to compete with them in this trade." Former chairman of Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers PAPAAM Chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi while reacting to the government decision said that this trade policy was a bomb-shell for the local industry.

He said that in India they converted their diesel buses to CNG and that technology could be introduced in Pakistan by encouraging the local industry. He was amazed that the government had allowed import of used LPG gas cylinders and old buses and alleged that it might have been allowed to benefit some people. He said: "We had buses here and industry, too, and could easily ask our people to work on this technology and convert the present fleet of buses from diesel to CNG.

Meanwhile, some industrialists have demanded that import of CNG buses from India should be linked with Indian investment and transfer of technology to the Pakistani vendor industry.Talking to Business Recorder former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Iftikhar Ali Malik said that the government should select only Indian assemblers, who give guarantee to invest in Pakistan, establish manufacturing plants, transfer the necessary know-how to local vendor industry and also ensure buy back arrangements.

Iftikhar Malik, who is also a former chairman, Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers & Dealers Association, said that permission to import second hand prime movers buses under TR and special purpose trucks in the Trade Policy 2008-09 has proved that successive governments have failed to implement the deletion programme. "Had Pakistan diligently followed its deletion programme, it would have been not only self-sufficient in case of Japanese vehicles like Hino, UD Nissan but also exporting to other countries", he added.

Malik regretted that Pakistan has been made paradise for the automobile assemblers, which had not passed any worthwhile technology to the Pakistani vendor industry though it has adequate in house engineering facilities to produce such parts. He quoted the shining example of Massey Ferguson UK Tractors as an example that has achieved over 90 percent deletion.

He, who has over 30 years experience of the engineering industry, said that Asian countries, which strictly implemented their deletion programme have now acquired the technical know-how to manufacture complete vehicles with the help of local vendor industry. However, in Pakistan, successive governments allowed import of junk under various schemes and wasted foreign exchange.

Malik also suggested that the Japanese should also be asked to base their next automobile units in Pakistan on local vendor industry to benefit the development of small industries.

LRTP SCAM ---- What to Say

While reading the Following News, I feel ashamed of what we are doing as a Pakistani.... Simply looting and looting and thinking for just oneselves and families. Indeed Ironic

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LAHORE, July 22: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has frozen bank accounts worth Rs45 million and seized 11 residential and commercial properties, besides four vehicles belonging to the two officials of the provincial transport department on the charges of embezzling over Rs400 million in the Light Rail Transit Project (LRTP).

The Asian Development Bank-funded project which had been in doldrums for several years is now scheduled to be completed by June 2010.

The embezzlement surfaced when the bureau investigated the charges leveled by a complainant that two officials of the transport department – Shahnawaz (section officer) and Shamshad Gulzar (cashier) – along with some other officials and officers had embezzled over Rs400 million allocated for the LRTP feasibility report.

According to the NAB officials, bank accounts worth Rs45 million in the names of both accused, their wives and a relative had been frozen while the bureau had also confiscated 11 residential and commercial properties of the accused located in Lahore, besides impounding four vehicles belonging to them.

Though none of the accused has been arrested so far, their names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ELC) on the NAB’s request.

The officials said further investigation was underway and more officials and officers of the transport department could be included in it. “If the evidence is found against the top officers during the course of investiga tion they would not be spared,” they added.

A senior officer expressed surprise how could the provincial government proceed against those involved in a foreign-funded project without establishing a project management board comprising officers of ‘integrity and good repute’. “If at the feasibility stage such glaring irregularities have come to light it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the project must be executed in transparent manner,” he said.

On the other hand, the AntiCorruption Establishment (ACE) has also registered a case against Shahnawaz, Shamshad and four of their relatives on the complaint of regional transport secretary.

The FIR has also sought to ‘determine the role of the then secretary, Agha Nadeem, and the principal accounts officer and others in the scam.’ The volume of the fraud mentioned in the FIR is Rs1 billion. Though the NAB and ACE are reportedly coordinating in the investigation, the latter appears to be ‘not clear’ from where to begin with.

According to the proposed project, a 17-foot high rail track is to be laid from the Lahore Bridge on the Ravi near Shahdara to Bhatti Chowk and then from Bhatti Chowk to the new airport terminal complex.

In the project, magnetic levitation technology would be used for traction with a computerised system run without a driver. The average speed of the train would be 600km to cover distance between Shahdara to the new airport in 31 minutes reducing the average traveling time by about one hour.

PAAPAM flays 10-year old CNG Buses Import from India

KARACHI (July 22 2008): Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) has flayed allowing, in the Trade Policy 2008-09, import of 10 years old CNG buses from India.

Paapam Chairman M A Malik in a statement said that Pakistan would become a junkyard of used machinery as a result of the measures announced in the new Trade Policy because after 5 years the buses used for public transport lose their efficiency and, after 10 years, outlive their utility. After the import of outlived buses, the government would be forced to allow import of spare parts from India to keep them in running condition.

Asian Development Bank Draft For Implementation of Lahore Mass Transit Project

The Following Draft shows ADB's plan for implementation of Lahore Mass Transit System Project.....

Government Decides to Launch 8000 CNG Buses

LAHORE: The government has decided to launch 8000 CNG busses in ten major cities of the country while a monitoring cell to control prices of essential food items has been formed which will work under the supervision of the Prime Minister.Federal Minister for Information, Sherry Rehman said this while briefing the media after the Federal Cabinet’s meeting held under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here at Governor House on Wednesday.

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This shows that Government is sincere in solving the major problems faced by general public.

Seminar on CNG Bus Terminal Fuelling Station

LAHORE: Rastgar and Company in collaboration with an international CNG equipment manufacturer, GreenField USA, organised GreenField CNG bus terminal fuelling station seminar Friday.GreenField Manager, Far East T J Li conversed the benefits and need of CNG bus terminal fueling stations in Pakistan.

Maqsood Zulfqar, director, Rastgar emphasized the requirement of CNG bus terminal fuelling stations in Pakistan with 08 to 15psi CNG pressure. He added “we are delighted to review the efforts of City Government, allocating Rs 500 million in financial year 2008-2009 for 500 CNG buses and importance to establish fuelling station to make transport affordable. staff report