Istanbul mayor gifts 100 buses to Lahore

LAHORE

Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas has announced 100 buses as a gift for Lahorites.He made the announcement during a luncheon hosted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in honour of Turk delegation here on Monday.

Praising Shahbaz Sharif’s leadership, the Istanbul mayor announced that Turkey would also provide spare parts and after sale service facility. He said the Turks felt pleasure in extending cooperation to Pakistani people in various sectors. He said Turkey had made progress by dint of hard work and the people of Pakistan would also have to show the same spirit. He said his country was ready to extend all out cooperation to the chief minister for the improvement of any sector.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressing his gratitude to the mayor over gift of buses said he had won the hearts of people of Punjab by extending cooperation to the Punjab for the improvement of various sectors. He said Turkey was a role model for Pakistani people.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas inaugurated the Metro Bus Service (BRT), launched with collaboration between Punjab and Turkey, on the Ferozepur Road here on Monday. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, provincial ministers, members national and provincial assembly and Lahore Transport Company chairman were present.

By unveiling the plaque of the project, Dr Topbas formally inaugurated the bus service by driving a metro bus from Naseerabad bus station to Gulab Devi Hospital on the Ferozepur Road. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and members of the Turkish delegation were also on board the bus. Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz said the metro bus project on the Ferozepur Road would extend from Kahna to Shahdara and its first phase from Kahna to Kalma Chowk would be completed by April. Similarly, 30 kilometer long second phase of the project would be completed by December this year. He said public transport of international standard would be available to the passengers through the bus service, adding that the disabled, senior citizens and women would especially benefit from the service. He said highly trained staff would operate the service and ticketing of the system would be completely automated.

The chief minister said the Punjab government and the people of the province were thankful to Turkey for cooperation in solid waste management and metro bus service. He said the Punjab government was pursuing the policy of providing international standard facilities to the masses. Mayor Istanbul Kadir Topbas said the cooperation from Turkey would continue for improvement of various sectors and betterment of the people of Punjab. He especially thanked Lahorites for their hospitality and added that he was deeply impressed with the sentiments of love shown by them for him.

PhD awarded: Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas and his entourage spent a b­usy day on Monday and visited Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum and historical Badshahi Mosque.

The Istanbul mayor also visited the Government College University where he was awarded honorary degree of doctorate.In his address at the GCU, Kadir Topbas said Lahore and Istanbul had produced a number of personalities who had proved their mettle in the world. He said educational and cultural importance was the common feature of both the cities.

Dr Topbas said he had brought the message of love and goodwill from the people of Istanbul for Lahorites. He said the ties between Pakistan and Turkey were decades old and his visit to Lahore would further strengthen the existing relations. He thanked the GCU for awarding him degree of Doctor of Law, saying that the honorary degree was a great honour for him due to which he had joined the academia of the GC University which included Allama Iqbal, noble laureate Dr Abdus Salam, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and five prime ministers, including Nawaz Sharif. The Istanbul mayor announced free facilities of higher education for 15 talented students of the GC University in Istanbul universities. He said cooperation between Turk and Pakistani universities would be enhanced, adding that Turkey would provide all possible technical cooperation for the uplift of Pakistani people.

Mr Topbas said work was going on the Rapid Bus Transit System, Solid Waste Management, modern IT University and projects of energy generation from indigenous resources. He said he was taking along pleasant memories from Lahore and he felt that his two days stay in Lahore was very short keeping in view the love he received here.

Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said Pak-Turk relations had strengthened during the tenure of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif due to which new vistas of development of the country had opened.

In his address, GCU vice-chancellor said Dr Topbas had been awarded honorary degree of doctorate in recognition of his services for strengthening of Pak-Turk friendship. Earlier, the Istanbul mayor and his delegation visited the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal .

A smartly turned out contingent of Rangers presented guard of honour to the guests. The mayor Istanbul also witnessed various parts of historical Badshahi Mosque. Provincial Auqaf Minister Ehsanuddin Qureshi welcomed the delegation. Talking to media outside the mosque, members of the Turk delegation said they had felt great spiritual peace at the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal.

via: thenews.com.pk