An agreement paving the way for China to build and operate the first-ever metro transit system in the Pakistani city of Lahore was signed in Shanghai last week.
Chinese president Xi Jiping and Pakistan’s president Mamnoon Hussain were on hand for the signing of the deal to build the $1.6bn Orange Line Metro Train Project, Pakistan News Service reported.
Punjab province chief minister Shahbaz Sharif called the agreement "historic" as it would bring about a revolution in Lahore’s transport system.
He said that the Chinese government would provide investment while Chinese companies would design, construct and monitor the metro, which would carry about 250,000 passengers every day, rising to 500,000 per day in 2025.
The total length of the track will be 27.1 kilometres out of which 25.4 km portion will be elevated. The project will start during this year and will take 27 months to complete.
