LAHORE: The newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong says China transferred its technology, knowledge and skills through the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project and other mega schemes launched and completed under CPEC.

“Through Orange Line and other projects completed under the China Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC), we transferred our all technology and knowledge to people of Pakistan,” he told the senior officials and train drivers during his visit to the project site.

“We think this way will be helpful for the economic improvement of Pakistan,” he said.

This was the first official visit of the ambassador to the very first operational CPEC project in Pakistan. Top management officials from Norinco International escorted the ambassador to various departments of the project, where he inquired of the drivers about their ongoing experience.

He expressed his satisfaction over the running of the project and congratulated the entire team for managing their professional duties with utmost dedication and commitment.

Mr Rong was pleased with the growing percentage of Pakistani workforce engaged with the project and the technical skills and training being imparted to them for their professional growth.

“It is a great honour for us that we, with our Pakistani brothers, are working very hard on various CPEC projects,” he said.

Li-Chen, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Norinco International, said: “We are humbled and pleased to welcome Nong Rong to the very first CPEC project in Pakistan that became operational on Oct 26, 2020.

“The project is a symbol of the long-standing Pakistan-China friendship that is committed to embracing a successful future through mutual support and collaboration.”

“We are determined to play a pivotal role in deepening these good relations between China and Pakistan and efficiently introducing the latest engineering marvels in Pakistan that can help modernize its socio-economic landscape,” he said.

The project is the first large-scale technologically advanced rail transit project under the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC. The project was jointly undertaken by China State Railway Group Co Limited and China North Industry Co. Ltd. (CR-NORINCO), with a total track length of 27.1 km and 26 stations, including two underground stations, one at Anarkali and the other at GPO.

A depot is located at Dera Gujran which is the northern end of the route and another at Ali Town located at the southern end of the route. The one-way fare is Rs40 and the end-to-end travel time is 45 minutes. The government claims that the facility is being used by about 245,000 passengers on a daily basis.

It is the very first CPEC transport project made operational for public use. Around 10 million passengers have traveled through the Orange Line system since its inauguration.

The Chinese envoy Mr Rong while speaking at a $60 million textile unit on Lahore-Multan Road said Pakistan and China were not only neighbours but also brothers.

“After CPEC, Pakistan has gained historical significance as Chinese investment will create thousands of new jobs here,” he added.

He said since more Chinese companies were ready to invest billions of dollars in various sectors in Pakistan, the resumption of export of textile products from this factory, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves would also increase.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2021