The Punjab government has approved the shift to a digital fare payment system for Lahore’s Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore, first electric railway transportation project completed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  

It is Pakistan's first urban railway system as well as the first implemented large-scale public infrastructure project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under “Belt & Road Initiative” that was inaugurated on October 25th, 2020, Gwadar Pro reported.

The traditional token system is planned to be replaced by a barcode-based entry through card payments. Passenger will be able to pay fare using credit or debit cards, ATM cards, and mobile wallet apps.

A tap-and-go system using NFC technology will also be implemented, allowing seamless access across the entire mass transit network.

A single unified T-Cash Card has been approved, which will be valid for all Orange Line rides for all 27 stations. Special transit cards for students are also in development.

Orange Line Metro is driven by electricity to achieve zero pollution and zero emission.It is estimated that the annual fuel emission of gases will be reduced by 30,000 tons.

As an early-harvest project of CPEC, the Orange Line project was jointly constructed by China Railway Group Corporation and China North Industries Corporation with $1.6 billion loan facility financed by China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China