Lebanese Prime Minister: Public transport development lies at the heart of economic recovery and social justice

Beirut, October 23 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed today that the development of public transport in his country touches the lives of every citizen and lies at the heart of economic recovery, social justice, and balanced development. This statement came during Salam’s speech at a meeting held at the Baabda Government Palace in Beirut, organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the theme “Towards Developing Public Transport in Lebanon.”

Salam noted that the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) inflicted severe damage on transport infrastructure, and the subsequent decades failed to see the development of a public transport network commensurate with population needs and urban expansion. The financial crisis further increased the cost and burden of commuting on families. He pointed out that “the World Bank estimated the economic cost of the transport sector crisis at more than $2 billion annually about a decade ago.”

Salam considered that improving public transport constitutes a practical means to increase citizens’ purchasing power, expand employment opportunities, and bring services closer to those who need them. “It is one of the areas where people can most feel the impact of reforms in the details of their daily lives,” he said. In this regard, he stressed that investment in public transport is an investment in economic productivity, in families’ purchasing power, and in people’s health and environment.

For his part, Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamni emphasized that public transport has become an “economic and social necessity and a national responsibility that cannot be delayed,” especially given rising fuel prices and accumulating living costs. Rasamni added that “the goal is to build an integrated, modern, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly system based on well-planned lines that respond to the needs of areas, with regular schedules, affordable fares, and safe, accessible stations for all, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities.”

He noted that the plan involves expanding the public transport network in four stages, from the current 12 lines to 54 lines, and increasing the number of buses to approximately 300 diesel and electric buses, thereby raising operational capacity from about 8,000 passengers daily to around 65,000. The plan also aims to provide geographic coverage placing approximately four million people within 500 meters of a public transport line.

For his part, Acting UNDP Resident Representative Thaer Al-Sharidi stressed that investment in public transport is “an investment in Lebanon’s recovery, given its role in alleviating burdens on families and facilitating access to employment opportunities and essential services.” Al-Sharidi said, “Our role is not limited to supporting pilot projects; it also includes building on their results to develop scalable solutions, strengthening technical and institutional capacities, and contributing to attracting broader investments.”

It is worth noting that the meeting was attended by several ministers, ambassadors, representatives of international bodies, donor agencies, and relevant institutions. A proposal for developing Lebanon’s public transport system was presented, encompassing the improvement of existing services, expansion of the transport network, modernization of the bus fleet and infrastructure, as well as discussions on opportunities for cooperation, support, and financing. (End) A.Y.B./M.A.A.