FAISALABAD, Feb 5 (APP)::Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid
Ahmad on Tuesday said 20 more VIP passenger trains would
also start soon.
A tendering process was being initiated to upgrade
1,680km long track of ML-2 and ML-4 in addition to
dualization of the Faisalabad-Lahore and Sialkot tracks, he
added.
Addressing the business community at the Faisalabad
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here, Sheikh Rashid
said that previous rulers had pushed the economy at the
verge of collapse. He added that:”We all are aware of
the fact that a strong economy is imperative for
defence and independent foreign policy”.
He said the present government had put the country
in the right direction but it had to take bold and
difficult decisions.
The minister said the FCCI was the first platform that
had realised the importance of economic stability and
appreciated the decisions taken by Prime Minister
Imran Khan and Finance Minister Asad Umar.
Sheikh Rashid said that former rulers spent 2 billion
dollars to launch only 27km long orange line train. It was
a luxurious spending as with this amount he could lay
new track throughout Pakistan.
Regarding the financial affairs of the Railway, he said
that Rs 35 billion were required to pay pensions, Rs 31 billion
for salaries, Rs18 billion for oil and Rs 25 billion
to pay the loan installments.
“We have to repair the old and abandoned bogies to
start 20 new trains. Now we are planning to launch yet
another 20 new VIP and high-speed passenger trains,” he added.
He said that Pakistan Railway could start high speed
trains with a speed of 160km per hour after the completion
of ML-1. The speed of these trains could be enhanced up to
260km per hour in later phase. He added that the travel
between Lahore-Karachi would be possible only within
6-7 hours.
The minister said all over the world, passenger trains
were not run for income generation but freight trains were
meant for earning profit. He added that” Pakistan is the
only country where we are earning a handsome profit
of Rs 2 billion from the passenger trains”.
He said Mohenjo-Daro Train was running successfully
with the occupancy of 160 per cent. Similarly, the occupancy
of Rehman Baba Train was 150 per cent.
He said that a new VIP ‘Jinnah Train’ would be launched
between Lahore and Karachi from March 23. “We are also
planning to start ‘Sir Syed Train’ which could be run
between Faisalabad and Karachi,” he added.
He also assured of starting more trains from Faisalabad
and said that local investors could start these trains by
paying advance fare of 10 days only.
The minister said the private sector could also run
trains by paying a reasonable rent for the track to Pakistan
Railways. He added that recently two private trains had
been started from Lahore and such trains could also be
launched from Faisalabad on the same terms and conditions.
He assured of resolving problems being confronted by the
Faisalabad Dry Port (FDP).
Responding to another question, he said the Pakistan
Railways was planning to start online booking system to
redress alleged misappropriation in the booking of
passenger trains.
Earlier, paying best tributes to the Kashmiri people,
he said that they were fighting for their fundamental
right to self-determination for the last 70 years.
He added that Pakistani nation was with them and paid
them the best tributes for their struggle for an
independent homeland.
Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed to pay tributes
to Kashmir martyrs in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The meeting was also addressed by former minister
Chaudhry Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Chairman FDP, while a
question-answer session was also held.
Meanwhile, the minister also visited railway station
and Faisalabad Dry Port.
