City to have 100 AC buses soon

LAHORE – Turkish Company Albayrak will operate 100 new air-conditioned buses at four routes of the city. An agreement in this connection was signed between the Lahore Transport Company and the Albayrak at CM Secretariat on Friday.

An official of the Company told TheNation that the Turkish Company paid Rs134 million, the 20 per cent of the total cost of the buses, to the provincial government and the buses would start operation at four different routs within two weeks.

According to a statement, LTC CEO Khawaja Haider Latif and Albayrak BOD Member Hamid Chelac signed the agreement. Transport Secretary Captain ® Muhammad Yousaf, LTC Vice-chairman Mehar Ishtiaq and other officers were present on the occasion.

LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, speaking on the occasion, said that huge investment in the domain of socio economic development by the Turkish Companies was indicative of strong relationship, brotherhood and mutual trust between Turkey and Pakistan. He informed that that Turkish Company would operate 100 buses manufactured by Ankai Company on route 8, General Bus Stand to Allama Iqbal Airport, route 28, Allama Iqbal Airport to Valencia Town, route 39, Allama Iqbal Airport to SheraKot and at route 46, Defense to Allama Iqbal Airport. Mr Hassan said that LTC was successfully executing the various projects in collaboration with Turkish and other local companies.

30 air-conditioned buses on Lahore-Kasur route: The Lahore Transport Company (LTC) has started 30 air-conditioned buses between Lahore and Kasur. Foton BusCo Company will operate the buses at Route 51 between Lahore and Kasur. There will be 16 stops between the two destination and minimum Rs20 rupees and maximum Rs70 will be charged as fare.

LTC Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassan inaugurated the bus service here on Friday. Speaking on the launching ceremony, he said that LTC was providing buses of international standards on all routes of the city, adding that provision of 30 air-conditioned buses by Foton Busco Company at Route 51 would give strong impetus in facilitating the people at large.

Foton Busco Company Chairman Joseph Vergease, LTC Vice-Chairman Mehar Ishtiaq and Kasur DCO also spoke on the occasion.

LTC CEO Khawaja Haider Latif, GM (Operations) Asad Rehman Gillani, GM (Enforcement) Kamran Khan, GM (Communication and Marketing) Amjad Hussain and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Ahmad Hassan said that LTC was providing conducive environment to local and foreign investors in urban transport sector. He said that international and local transport companies reposing full confidence in LTC and Punjab government by virtue of reforms introduced in urban transport sector.

Mehar Ishtiaq said that a project of public transport had been initiated in order to provide relief to the public. Joseph Vergease said BuscoFoton was executing public transport project with the active assistance and collaboration of Punjab government and LTC. He said that 30 air-conditioned were being plied in a first phase and a number of public transport projects would be launched in various districts of Punjab and Sindh in future as well.