Afghanistan, March 17 -- Pakistan's only operational metro rail service, the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) in Lahore, continues to face significant challenges due to low ridership and financial difficulties. Launched in 2020, the project was initially expected to serve 250,000 passengers daily, but in its first year, ridership remained limited to 72,000 passengers per day, leading to considerable financial strain on the government. Despite efforts to improve its viability, the metro system has struggled with sustainability, and its financial liabilities remain a concern.
Uzair Shah, the former General Manager of Punjab Mass-Transit Authority (PMA), noted that revenue from fare collection covered only a fraction of the operational costs. P...