The consortium led by Guangzhou Metro signed a contract on the operation and maintenance of the Pakistan Lahore Orange Line project with Punjab Province, Pakistan on Feb 25.

The signing of the contract marked the first overseas project that Guangzhou Metro has ever won.

The consortium, formed by NORINCO International Cooperation Ltd, Guangzhou Metro, and Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service Ltd, will undertake the operation and maintenance of the project for eight years.

The project is scheduled to start commercial operation in early July this year.

The Pakistan Lahore Orange Line, located in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, is expected to become the first metro line in Pakistan. The project is also the first transportation infrastructure project officially launched in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Pakistan Lahore Orange Line, located in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, is expected to become the first metro line in Pakistan. [Photo/ycwb.com]

With a total length of 25.58 kilometers, the orange line will fully apply standards, technologies, and equipment from China. The highest design speed of the whole line is 80 km per hour.

Being a north-south line, the orange line will set up a total of 26 stations, including six underground stations and 20 elevated stations.

Currently, Guangzhou Metro has run a total of 515 km metro lines in China, being a pioneer both at home and abroad. Guangzhou Metro has ranked first in operation security and punctuality according to the latest data released by Community of Metros in 2019.

The Pakistan Lahore Orange Line, being a north-south line, is scheduled to set up a total of 26 stations, including six underground stations and 20 elevated stations. [Photo/ycwb.com]