LAHORE, Feb 15 (APP):Railways Minister Shiekh Rashid Ahmad said on Saturday the Pakistan Railways and Turkish Railways would work in transfer of technology as a joint venture in future.
Addressing a press conference at the PR Headquarters, he said under an agreement
signed with Turkey, coaches would be manufactured in Pakistan and the railways would
improve its technology with the support of Turkish Railways workshops.
He said shuttle train operation between Lahore and Gujranwala would be initiated
on February 24 from Gujranwala and half fare would be charged on the first day
in the train, adding that parking fee at the both railway stations would be reduced so
that passengers prefer traveling by train instead of roads.
The minister said that the Supreme Court (SC) had given time of three months for the
operation of Karachi Circular Railways and all hurdles would be removed in this regard
with help of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
“We do not want to disturb people but 50-feet land from both sides of the KCR track
would have to evacuate and rangers can be used for this purpose under the orders
of the SC,” he added.
The minister said the SC had given permission for selling out of railways properties situated in Karachi to end deficit, adding that all deficit of the PR would be removed, if the PR got succeeded to sell out even only one building like Hayyat Regency at Karachi.
To a question, he said that elimination of encroachments was responsibility of the government.
He said that the SC had expressed its trust in performance of the railways during his recent
appearance before the court which was an honour for the department.
The first time in the railways history, the PR devised a business plan which had been
submitted to the SC and he thanked the Planning Ministry for helping in this regard.
To a question, the minister said that the railways had a transparent mechanism for selling
of land and property in Karachi would be sold transparently.
