NaMaloom
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Here is today's (June 4th, 2015) show OFF THE RECORD w/ Kashif Abbasi on ARY News, Zubair Umer of PMLN grilled.
Youtube Video
The gist of the program, former Rawalpindi General Hospital now known as Benazir Bhutto Hospital has serious problems where ventilators don't work, dialysis machines don't work, etc. Same is the case with Islamabad's biggest hospital, PIMS where patients die all the time due to lack of adequate facilities and resources.
Similar short-comings throughout Punjab in health and education sectors coupled with high unemployment and what does the provincial government decide to do?
Build 'Metro Bus' projects, slapping concrete everywhere and claim this is 'development'.
The costs of building both Metro Bus projects have gone through the roof. Rs. 50b for Islamabad Metro Bus Project according to some estimates, while roughly Rs. 30b for Lahore Metro Bus Service.
For the math and technical details, read the following report
Just how 'Fit for Purpose' are the Metrobus projects? - Blogs - DAWN.COM
Excerpt from the blog,
"According to the American Public Transport Association BRT infrastructure should cost US $2-18 million/km, the Lahore Metrobus’ infrastructure capital cost is more expensive as compared to international benchmarks. As per published figures, the infrastructure costs in US$ per kilometer (all costs escalated to 2014) for BRT for various cities are:
Given lower labour costs in Pakistan and averaging the above figures, a fair estimate for infrastructure costs should be approximately $5-7m/km.
Therefore, at $11m/km, the Lahore Metrobus cost wise is substantially higher than the benchmark.
============================================================
It does not take rocket scientist to figure out that PMLN's massive 'shock & awe' development projects at staggering costs to the national exchequer are rife with corruption - commissions and kickbacks.
As per the claims in the show,
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project and Karachi's Green Line were approved at the same time and as shown in the show PPP's Murad Ali Shah admits that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he will fund Karachi's green line 100% from Federal funds and complete it in One Year time frame along with Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project; however, NO MONEY was given, not a single brick laid for Karachi project, but Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project was finished because its a 'Punjab related project'.
And instead of Islamabad's Capital Development Authority having any role in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project, all the banners hanging at the inauguration ceremony were that of Rawalpindi Development Authority - means, credit being taken by Punjab province instead of the Federally controlled Capital Development Authority. Pretty sad indeed.
@SBD-3 @Leader @Jzaib
Youtube Video
The gist of the program, former Rawalpindi General Hospital now known as Benazir Bhutto Hospital has serious problems where ventilators don't work, dialysis machines don't work, etc. Same is the case with Islamabad's biggest hospital, PIMS where patients die all the time due to lack of adequate facilities and resources.
Similar short-comings throughout Punjab in health and education sectors coupled with high unemployment and what does the provincial government decide to do?
Build 'Metro Bus' projects, slapping concrete everywhere and claim this is 'development'.
The costs of building both Metro Bus projects have gone through the roof. Rs. 50b for Islamabad Metro Bus Project according to some estimates, while roughly Rs. 30b for Lahore Metro Bus Service.
For the math and technical details, read the following report
Just how 'Fit for Purpose' are the Metrobus projects? - Blogs - DAWN.COM
Excerpt from the blog,
"According to the American Public Transport Association BRT infrastructure should cost US $2-18 million/km, the Lahore Metrobus’ infrastructure capital cost is more expensive as compared to international benchmarks. As per published figures, the infrastructure costs in US$ per kilometer (all costs escalated to 2014) for BRT for various cities are:
- Ahmedabad, India $3 million/km
- Dalian, China $4.5m/km
- Guangzhou, China $6.5m/km
- Istanbul, Turkey $10m/km
- Bogota, Columbia (new phase) $13.3m/km
- Lima, Peru $10m/km
- Los Angeles, USA $ 14.4m/km
Given lower labour costs in Pakistan and averaging the above figures, a fair estimate for infrastructure costs should be approximately $5-7m/km.
Therefore, at $11m/km, the Lahore Metrobus cost wise is substantially higher than the benchmark.
============================================================
It does not take rocket scientist to figure out that PMLN's massive 'shock & awe' development projects at staggering costs to the national exchequer are rife with corruption - commissions and kickbacks.
As per the claims in the show,
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project and Karachi's Green Line were approved at the same time and as shown in the show PPP's Murad Ali Shah admits that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he will fund Karachi's green line 100% from Federal funds and complete it in One Year time frame along with Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project; however, NO MONEY was given, not a single brick laid for Karachi project, but Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project was finished because its a 'Punjab related project'.
And instead of Islamabad's Capital Development Authority having any role in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus project, all the banners hanging at the inauguration ceremony were that of Rawalpindi Development Authority - means, credit being taken by Punjab province instead of the Federally controlled Capital Development Authority. Pretty sad indeed.
@SBD-3 @Leader @Jzaib
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