Chairing a meeting in Karachi the other day on improving the dismal state of the public transport system, President Asif Ali Zardari instructed the concerned authorities to facilitate Chinese companies interested in introducing CNG buses in different cities.
Informed that Chinese companies, in fact, have been waiting for five months to hear the government decision on the subject, the President told the officials present at the meeting to conclude an agreement with them by March 31. This would be in keeping with the spirit of the two governments' decision to celebrate 2011 as the year of Pakistan-China friendship. Besides, over the years, China has consistently demonstrated a deep and sincere commitment to this country's developmental effort. Almost every important project whether in the field of energy, defence, or infrastructure has come to fruition with the help of our Chinese friends. It is only proper therefore that the government should give preferential treatment to Chinese companies.
The need for putting in place an efficient public transport system cannot be overemphasised. It is a major problem in all our big cities. However, if the example of the Punjab government is any guide, granting Chinese companies the necessary go-ahead will not be enough. Last May, the Punjab government signed as many as seven MoUs with investors from Canada, UK and Turkey for different projects related to improvement of public transportation in the province. Three local investors also signed the MoUs. But so far, there is little progress in evidence despite the Chief Minister's keen interest in the project. Even earlier, the CM had initiated a transportation project under the auspices of a newly set up Lahore Transport Company inviting five investors, offering them generous incentives like a 25 percent subsidy on each of the 300 CNG buses they were to put on the roads by June 2009. The investor response was a lot less than enthusiastic.
They are wary due to different problems. It is not difficult to figure out that CNG shortages act as a major discouragement. Sudden and sizeable fluctuations in energy prices are another reason investors hesitate to come in. People have also been pointing to lack of proper infrastructure; and sadly, poor commitment on the part of the concerned authorities to safeguard investor interests (which could be a polite way of putting complaints about the usual bureaucratic red tape and corruption). It would not be sufficient therefore to award contracts to trustworthy Chinese companies. First of all, the government must ensure uninterrupted supply of CNG. There is an urgent need to develop our own gas resources. But for now reliable arrangements must be made from whichever source possible to keep the new CNG buses going. As regards infrastructure, the President rightly averred that the city governments should provide road track, parking facilities and pressurised filling stations to the bus operators. Hopefully, all these issues will be duly addressed sooner rather than later.