Yousafzai claims Peshawar BRT project cheaper than Lahore Metro bus

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for education Shaukat Yousafzai on Thursday has dismissed the allegation of former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif on the cost of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Yousafzai, said he would resign if the project cost proved to be so much more than the Lahore Metro Bus project.

While the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly earlier took to social media and tweeted regarding BRT cost, in which Mr. Sharif said, “The Cost of Peshawar Metro (still incomplete) is almost equal to the cost of Lahore, RWP-Islamabad & Multan BRTs combined. Lahore BRT 27km at Rs 29.65B cost AND Peshawar BRT 27.6 km at Rs. 90+ Billion costs. No wonder PTI got stay orders from courts to prevent corruption inquiry.”

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Even though there were groundless & false accusations of corruption against the 3 BRT projects built by PMLN & they were derided as 'Jangla' bus, these were completed in record time & provide dignified & safe travel to the citizens, especially women & the daily wage earners.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 8, 2020

Responding to the allegation of Shehbaz Sharif provisional minister said the Peshawar BRT would become operational in this year, adding he said,  “Mr. Sharif must prove his allegation about the cost of BRT, he said the PML-N media cell was unaware of the fact and were busy in “bizarre propaganda” without any understanding of the matter.”

Shaukat Yousafzai also claimed that The Lahore Metro Bus Service (MBS) has been made functional with an overall cost of Rs38 billion, whereas the BRT would be fully operational at Rs35 billion,” adding  that “BRT would be delivering “third-generation facility” while Lahore MBS offered people with “second generation services.”