Punjab hits back after KP govt’s taunt on Bikers Lane paint

Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Monday said that the company who painted Bikers Lane on Ferozepur Road in Lahore will again paint the Lane, and this time it will be ensures that they use high-quality paint, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Reacting to KP government spokesman Barrister Saif’s statement regarding using of poor-quality paint for Bikers Lane, Azma Bokhari explained that the relevant company painted the Bikers Lane for testing purpose for only one year.

She further said that the Punjab government has not paid a single penny to the company and will not bear any loss but the BRT which was operational in Peshawar had faced major accidents as after its inauguration five years ago.

Azma Bokhari said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has to clear payment of Rs60 billion to Peshawar Metro which is still outstanding.

BRT Peshawar case is already being heard in the international court of justice.

She accused Barrister Saif of trying to propagate baseless allegations against welfare projects of Punjab government but miserably failed to update people about progress of KP government.

She said that even in current era, people of KP cross canals on bikes and bring water in buckets.

Azma Bokhari said that after Metro Bus and Orange Line projects, now Punjab government is planning to start tram and underground green line for welfare of the people.

She said that no material available for Barrister Saif to highlight progress and development of KP government.

Contract for Bikers’ lane

It has emerged that there was a blatant violation of rules and regulations while awarding the contract for painting Lahore’s first lane for bikers, spreading over 10. 

Sources told 24News TV channel that it had come to light that the contract for the project was given to a blue-eyed boy who neither met the criterion nor did he have a good reputation and experience. 

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) did not prequalify the companies, having the required experience, they said, adding that the contractor did not use the paint of an established firm. 

Rather, sources revealed, he purchased the paint of an extremely poor quality from Ferozepur Road, Lahore.

They explained that a special powder had to be mixed so that the paint could stick to the lane, but this was also ignored. 

Since work was done in advance, no consultant, including NESPAK, was hired to supervise the project.   

Sources also informed that baseless news was published in the print media that a show-cause notice had been issued to the contractor so that the people could be misguided. 

The Engineering Wing, they added, kept the LDA DG in the dark about complete details. 

Citizens, on the other hand, have demanded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to order a complete inquiry into the scam which had made the provincial government a laughing stock.

On Thursday, 24News TV channel had reported that the first rainfall in Lahore has exposed the poor quality of the newly painted Biker Lane, washing away the expensive paint and turning the track into a slippery route.

The rainwater has accumulated at various points on the lane, worsening conditions for motorcyclists.

Sources said that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) spent over Rs110 million on the paint alone, yet a light shower was enough to strip it off.

The green and orange paint, applied to mark the designated biker lanes, peeled off immediately upon contact with rainwater, raising serious concerns about the quality of materials used.

Reporters: Rao Dilshad Hussain and Durre Nayab