LAHORE: – Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan has said that the Punjab government is taking comprehensive measures to develop a modern, safe, environment-friendly and efficient transport system across the province and advancing public transport, electric buses, electric taxis, electric motorcycles and various railway projects.
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He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani, Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, Executive Committee Members and former office-bearers also spoke on the occasion. Former LCCI President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, former Vice Presidents Haris Atiq and Shahid Nazir Chaudhry Executive Committee members Ali Raza, Syed Azmat Ali, Naveed Ayub, Muhammad Ali, Zulfiqar Chaudhry, Azeem Iftikhar and Sahir Mushtaq were also present.
Bilal Akbar Khan said continuous consultation and coordination between the government and the business community would help find practical solutions to transport-related issues and ensure better facilities for citizens and businesses.
The Provincial Minister said that the Orange Line Metro Train and Metro bus services were already providing important public transport facilities in Punjab, while further projects were being planned. He said feasible projects would also be taken forward through private-sector participation.
He said the 1,100-electric-bus project in Punjab was progressing rapidly towards completion, with around 90 percent of the buses already operational. The remaining buses would soon become fully operational in different districts. The project, he said, would provide daily commuting facilities to approximately 500,000 passengers.
He further said that around 400 Speedo buses and 130 electric buses were already operating in Lahore, while additional electric buses would start operating by January 2027. He also announced the appointment of a focal person to maintain coordination between the Transport Department and the Lahore Chamber.
Regarding the Sunder Industrial Estate, the Provincial Minister categorically stated that Sunder would be included in the public transport network.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar said the Orange Line Metro Train and Metro bus service had played an important role in improving mobility in Lahore. However, he stressed the need for greater awareness among the business community regarding the future, expansion and costs of these projects as well as the opportunities they could create for businesses.
He also called for further improvement in the traffic management system. Referring to the Environmental Protection Amendment Act and the amendments relating to food standards, Ali Hussam Asghar said the Lahore Chamber would conduct a detailed review in the coming days and submit its recommendations.
He said certain legal provisions were stringent for the business community and suggested that, in cases of minor violations, fines or financial penalties should be considered instead of registering criminal cases.
Ali Hussam Asghar also proposed a joint review of the transport law with the Transport Department, stressing that the business community should be facilitated in conducting business rather than being subjected to unnecessary legal proceedings.
He further said that coordination with the National Parking Company could help address Lahore’s parking and electric vehicle charging requirements in a more effective manner.
LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani welcomed the improvement initiatives in the transport sector and the introduction of the e-taxi scheme. He stressed the need to create greater public awareness about these projects and called for expanding the scope of Vehicle Inspection Units to facilitate citizens.
Sardar Usman Ghani also emphasized the need to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure and keep the Lahore Chamber informed about the government’s plans in this regard.
LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadam Hussain also stressed the need for further improvement in the traffic management system.
Former LCCI President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman proposed establishing charging stations in consultation with the Federal Minister for Industries and Production and Chinese counterparts, where a single charger could accommodate different vehicle models.
Members of the LCCI Executive Committee and other participants highlighted the importance of the road leading to Sunder Industrial Estate for industrial activity. They pointed out that illegal commercial activities and encroachments on both sides of the road were creating difficulties for traffic flow and industrial operations, stressing the need for permanent planning and appropriate measures for the road.
The participants also expressed concern over the registration of cases against commercial vehicle drivers for minor violations and called for a graduated enforcement mechanism, under which drivers should first be warned, followed by a fine where necessary, and only then subjected to further action in appropriate cases.
Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi called for arrangement in industrial estates for promptly removing broken-down vehicles from industrial areas so that traffic flow could be maintained smoothly.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar also proposed establishing a permanent coordination platform among the Lahore Chamber, Transport Department and Traffic Police. He said such a mechanism would provide transporters, industrialists and exporters with an effective channel for resolving urgent issues relating to vehicles, challans, routes, loading and unloading of goods and other transport-related matters.
