"I hope when I grow up I can go to China to learn advanced technology and build more comfortable and convenient subways like the Orange Line for Pakistan," said Shafan, an eight-year-old Pakistani primary school student, about riding Lahore's Orange Line.

Orange Line subway in Lahore, Pakistan

Located in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, the Orange Line is 27 kilometers long and has 26 stations. It was built by a Chinese company and officially opened in October 2020. It is the first and currently the only subway line in Pakistan. The Orange Line subway is one of the early harvest projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Shavan's parents dropped him and his brother and sister off at the subway station at 7:30 a.m., and the three took the subway to school together. Shafan's brother Hanan, 12, told the newspaper that he used to worry about being late for school because of the traffic. The Orange Line is punctual and fast, so the subway can ensure that they get to school on time every day and their parents no longer have to take them to school.

"The good environment in the subway allows students to enjoy a comfortable space on the way to school, and they arrive in better spirits and learn more efficiently." "Said Waqar Kayani, head of the Manawan campus of Pakistan United Schools in Lahore.

In addition to students, local office workers are increasingly keen to ride the Orange Line. For Maihak Idris, who has to commute between Lahore's North and south districts for her job, the Orange Line has made her travel easier and cheaper. "Since I started using the Orange Line, my monthly transportation cost has been reduced to 3,000 rupees from 3,500 rupees previously." "Idris said.

The Orange Line also attracts many visitors to clock in. Subway operator Azam Ali told reporters that many of Lahore's attractions are along the Orange Line, and many tourists use the subway to get around the historic city. The Orange Line itself has become a local attraction, with some out-of-town tourists coming to experience it.

According to Li Chen, general manager of Northern International Pakistan Lahore Orange Line Operation and maintenance project, the Orange Line subway has been in safe operation for 24 months, carrying more than 50 million passengers and 99.99 percent of trains on time. Under the guidance and training of Chinese experts, 1,300 local employees of the Orange Line project have become the first batch of modern rail transit professionals in Pakistan. Among them, three Pakistani employees were selected as "Outstanding Pakistani Employees of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project".

"Pakistan is fortunate to have such a high-quality subway as the Orange Line, which allows Pakistanis to feel the tangible benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. It has become fashionable for locals to take the Orange Line." Said Orsel Shah, general manager of operations at the public Transport Authority in Punjab province, where Lahore is located. Editor/He Yuting