Orange Line completion a major outcome of the CPEC, says China

Neighboring ally China has congratulated Pakistan on the inauguration of Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT), an early harvest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“The completion of the Orange Line also marks a major outcome of the CPEC,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's in a presser while responding to the project inauguration.

“The Orange Line is an early harvest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Its inauguration introduces an era of metro train service for Pakistan. As Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said at the Orange Line's inauguration ceremony, it is one of the most advanced urban rail transport projects in South Asia, providing modern, efficient, environmental-friendly and safe transport service to Lahore while reducing air pollution. During construction, this project created more than 7,000 local jobs, and I understand nearly 2,000 more jobs will be created during its operation and maintenance,” said Zhao.

The spokesperson added that China will continue working with Pakistan to advance the building of the CPEC and forge it into a quality demonstration project of the Belt and Road Initiative.

It is pertinent to mention that the Orange Line is an automated rapid transit system in Lahore and is Pakistan's first metro in the entire country. It spans 27.1 km with 25.4 km elevated and 1.72 km underground.

The line will be served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passengers daily. The project is being financed by both the Government of Pakistan and Government of China.

The project was initiated in May 2014 while financing for the project was secured in December 2015 when China's Exim Bank agreed to provide a soft loan of $1.55 billion for the project. The construction works on the project began in October 2015.