TERENCE J SIGAMONY

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed time until 31st January 2020 for completion of the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard the OLMT project case. The secretary transport appeared before the bench.

Sibtain Fazal Haleem, who was appointed as focal person of OLMT project in August last year, requested the bench to grant time until January 31, 2020 for completion of the project. He said train’s test run and removal of technical error time till January is required.

Justice Azmat allowing time till January said the Supreme Court would itself supervise the OLMT project.

Earlier, the bench expressed annoyance over the delay in completion of the OLMT project. Justice Azmat remarked that huge amount has been spent on this project, besides that it has not been completed yet. He inquired when this project would be completed.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that in the last hearing (June 13), upon the submission of AAG Punjab Qasim Cohan that majority of the work has been undertaken and completed and the project will now be handed over to Chinese firm for further development and test run, they had directed that train should fully be operational by 30th November, 2019.

The secretary transport informed that so far Rs 169 billion have been spent on this project and its cost has increased due to delay. Justice Azmat asked the secretary whether he will pay the excessive cost from his own pocket. He remarked that the Supreme Court wants its completion soon.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the project started during the tenure of last government (PML-N) had to be completed by October 2018. Justice Ijaz stated that in the last hearing (June 1, 2019) the Punjab government was directed either to extend tenure of Sibtain or appoint someone in his place, adding Sibtain has been associated with the OLMT project since its start.

The secretary informed that they have recommended for extension in Sibtain’s tenure.

The case would be fixed after the summer vacations.

Earlier, the Chief Justice had remarked that public welfare is the basic objective of this court. He said the people of Lahore have already suffered due to this project; therefore, they wanted early completion of the project.

A five-member bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel on December, 2017, had announced the judgement after eight months hearing on multimillion dollars train project.

The apex court had set aside the Lahore High Court verdict to halt construction of the OLMT and ordered the Punjab government to resume work on the project subject to certain conditions.

The bench had taken up identical petitions filed by the Punjab government, National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak), Punjab Mass Transit Authority, Lahore Development Authority and Civil Society Network against the August 19, 2016 LHC judgement suspending construction work on OLMT within 200 feet of 11 heritage sites in the provincial capital.

The apex court in its judgement ordered the Punjab government to resume construction on the train project and complete it by the planned date. It also directed the provincial government to form two technical committees within 30 days to oversee technical aspects of the project.

The OLMT is expected to facilitate up to 250,000 commuters every day.