This is the Lahore Rail Transit Orange Line project under commissioning filmed in Lahore, Pakistan on October 24. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Tian
The Lahore Rail Transit Orange Line Project undertaken by a Chinese company was connected by video link between Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province in eastern Pakistan, and Beijing, China on the 25th. The opening ceremony of the operation was held in this way, marking Pakistan’s entry into the “Metro Era”.
The Chief Minister of Punjab Province Buzdal said at the opening ceremony that the Orange Line is currently one of the most advanced urban rail transit projects in the entire South Asia region.
The operation of the Orange Line has improved the level of urbanization in Lahore and can provide benefits for Lahore citizens. Bringing modern, efficient, environmentally friendly, and safe travel services will help reduce air pollution in Lahore and has far-reaching economic and social significance.
Buzdal said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has opened up a new path towards development and prosperity for Pakistan, and the successful completion of the Orange Line project will promote the further development of the traditional friendship between the two countries.
The Chinese Consul General in Lahore Long Dingbin said that the completion of the Orange Line project is another major achievement in the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
It is a concrete manifestation of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership and adds to the friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan in the new era. New connotation.
Wang Xiaobing, deputy general manager of North International Cooperation Co., Ltd., told Xinhua News Agency that the Orange Line project all adopts Chinese standards, technology and equipment to realize the complete output of the entire industrial chain of China’s urban subway from design, manufacturing, construction to operation and maintenance.
The project will create more than 7,000 local jobs during the construction period, and nearly 2,000 jobs will be created during the operation and maintenance phase.
As one of the early harvest projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Lahore Orange Line project was jointly constructed by China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. and China North Industries Corporation, and was implemented by China Railway International Co., Ltd. and North International Cooperation Co., Ltd.
The Orange Line project is financed by the Export-Import Bank of China, with a total investment of approximately US$1.6 billion. Construction began in September 2015 and completed and delivered in early October 2020. In February 2020, an enterprise consortium including Northern International Cooperation Co., Ltd. successfully signed an 8-year orange line operation and maintenance project contract with relevant parties in Pakistan.
