CHIEF Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government is paying special attention to the improvement of public transport system as it is also a barometer of the progress of a country.

He has directed the Transport Department to consider plying of free busses for the boy and girl students of schools located in the poor localities.

He was speaking at a briefing given by Lahore Transport Company Chairman Tasnim Noorani regarding modern transport facilities for people at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday.

The chief minister also ordered setting up of two special committees, headed by Planning and Development chairman and Finance secretary, to submit recommendations regarding provision of subsidy to the operators of the Lahore Transport Company, its business plan and other affairs. He directed the officials concerned to promote such a public transport culture in the province that senior officers and well-to-do persons might also benefit from it. He said the Punjab government had evolved a comprehensive plan for the improvement of the transport system and subsidy was also being provided to operators for the purpose.

Mr Shahbaz said operators, bringing new buses, should be encouraged and added that he had signed a memorandum of understanding regarding transport during his visit to Turkey. He said that such a route should be identified in Lahore where Istanbul model of transport could be replicated.

LABARD: Shahbaz Sharif has announced a donation of Rs 2 million for the Lahore Businessmen Association for Rehabilitation of Disabled (Labard). He made the donation on Monday during a fund raising dinner Labard organised.