Orange Line Metro case: Top court summons secretary transport, finance on Friday

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan has summoned the secretary transport and finance in the Orange Line Metro case, on Tuesday.

According to details, a three member bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday took up the case.

During the hearing, Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that the said work on the project should not stop because of funds, ARY News reported.

Justice Azmat Saeed warned that the matter can be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as the company failed to fulfill its deadline.

Later the court, after summoning secretary transport and finance adjourned the further hearing into the case till Friday.

The Orange line will span 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground. The line will be served by 26 stations and is expected to handle 250,000 passenger daily.

Though it is frequently mentioned as a part of the wider China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Orange line is being financed by the Government of Punjab.

The 27-kilometer metro train is expected to cost $1.6 billion, out of which $300 million would come from the Federal Government of Pakistan, the rest is financed through soft loans by the Government of China.