LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Punjab government to remove name of a former contractor of Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project from the list of blacklisted companies.

Allowing a petition of M/S Maqbool Calsons, Justice Ayesha A Malik also directed the government to submit a compliance report by March 17.

The construction company was awarded contract of Orange Line Metro Train PC-H from Chauburji Chowk to All Town at an amount of over Rs18 billion.

The company`s counsel Taffazul Haider Rizvi argued that the project was delayed due to multiple reasons however to avoid payment of additional amount due under the agreement the government terminated the contract and blacklisted the petitioner company.

The counsel stated that the government and Lahore Development Authority illegally assumed the role of adjudicator whereas in a contract one party could not on its own declare the other party a defaulter. He asked the court to set aside the impugned order of the government.