Guidance:
Changsha, May 16th (Xinhua/Zheng Xin)
For 26 years old electrical engineer Muhammad Shoaib, May 15th is a memorable day--As an only personnel who comes from Pakistan in corporation headquarters of CRRC ZELC, he saw the first metro of Pakistani first urban rail transit project rolled off the production line in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province.
This project is also named “Orange Line Project”, which provides services for Lahore--the capital of Punjab Province, second largest city of Pakistan. It is the early achievement and demonstration project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and is a demonstration project of China-Pakistan cooperation under the background of The Belt and Road Initiative.
On the morning of May 15th, with the whistle roaring, a metro which adopts the element of jasminum grandi florum (Pakistan’s National Flower) was drove out of the workshop slowly. “001” marked on the left of headstock indicates its special significance. After the metro stopped, Shoaib in the grey overalls boarded the metro together with guests. He smiled radiantly inside the coach which hanged the national flags of China and Pakistan. “Pakistan has the first metro line because of Lahore Orange Line Project. I’m very proud that our dream comes true in this moment.” he said.
Shoaib’s hometown is the capital of Pakistan--Islamabad. 7 years ago, he came to China as undergraduate and graduate majored in electrical engineering at Xi’an Jiaotong University. When he graduated, he entered CRRC ZELC. The second project he participated in is Lahore Orange Line Project, and he was in charge of electrical coupling.
In April 2015, China and Pakistan signed the Orange Line Project EPC Contract and the contract price is about 1.6 billion dollars. The Project was financed by The Export-Import Bank of China and CRRC ZELC was responsible for manufacture. Besides, it adopted the standard of China and metro vehicle and electrical system of it all adopted Chinese equipments.
The senior adviser of Punjab Province’s chief minister, Hassan, attended off-line ceremony. That the first metro of Orange Line Project rolled off the production line is the first achievement of the China-Pakistan corporation after the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), which has exemplary effect. “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the important part of The Belt and Road. We hope to turn this project into a demonstration project, and continue advancing the China-Pakistan corporation.” Hassan said.
The project will go into service in the first half year of 2018. Thus, it will ease the traffic pressure of Lahore effectively by shortening the drive time to 45 minutes or so from 2.5 hours and providing services for 250 thousand people each day. According to the measure and calculation, in the first year, it can achieve about 9.29 billion rupees (about 610 million Yuan), and save about 5.62 billion rupees ( about 370 million Yuan). It will bring remarkable social and economic benefits.
Moreover, during the process of this project, it can provide great opportunities for talents, and hire various professionals for the further development of Pakistan’s transportation.
“Chinese people are very friendly for Pakistani. They always call me ‘brother’” , Shoaib looks back upon these seven years at China and feels that he never leaves his hometown. “Pakistani must love this gift from Chinese.”