LAHORE, Apr 20 (APP):Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that the Parliamentary system was protected under constitution of the country.
He was responding to a question about chances of changing parliamentry system with Presidential form of governance in the country, during a press conference at PR headquarters here on Saturday morning.
” The country will move ahead with in the limits of Parliamentry system only”, he added.
He said that the PTI government would complete its five-year tenure under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said that Imran was struggling hard for improvement of the
system and uplift of common man and it was his prerogative to change any minister whenever he liked it.
He said that the national exchequer was empty when the PTI took over charge and Asad Umar did his utmost effort for the improvement in the economy.
” I will request him to change his decision of leaving
the cabinet,” he added.
The minister said that newly appointed Advisor to Prime
Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was also a good
economist and politician.
To a question, Sheikh Rashid said that there was no room
for Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari in the national politics
in future.
“PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zaradri will also damage his
political career if he tried to protect hisfather’s corruption,” he said.
He was of the view “thieves and robbers like Sharif,s
and Zaradri badly looted the country and the current inflation
was result of their corruption.”
” Nawaz and Zardari are responsible for the inflation,
price hike and heavy utility bills,” he added.
To another question, he said that there was no option
other than going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due
to the bad financial condition of the country which PTI
inherited from its predecessors.
” World Bank and Islamic Bank will also provide financial cooperation after Pakistan finalizes deal with IMF,” he added.
The Minister said that the Railways earned Rs 4 billion
more than its target this year, adding that workers would be
facilitated in the upcoming budget of the railways.
He alleged that some International forces were conspiring
against the ML-1 and these forces were creating hurdles in
this regard.
However, he hoped that agreement regarding ML-1 with
China would be signed during his visit to China between April
25 to 27 and the nation would hear a good news about the
railways soon.
“After upgradation of ML-1, journey between Karachi and
Lahore will be squeezed to eight hours,” he claimed.
Minimum speed at the ML-1 would be 160 km/hour, he said.
Sheikh Rashid said that the railways would provide
employment to at least 1,50,000 people in near future.
He said that the Railways was backbone of the country but
the previous rulers just wasted national money on roads
instead of railways.
He alleged that the previous rulers just made procurements
in the railways but did not upgrade the system.
” I have eliminated corruption in the railways,” he
added.
The Minister said that trackers were being installed in
the freight trains after passenger trains for their better
monitoring.
He said that he was struggling for one grade promotion to
the railways employees.
He said that he had cancelled tender for purchase of
passenger coaches and a new tender would be announced later.
The Railways Minister also announced that all those
officers would be transferred who were working at any post for
three years.
To another question, he said that Jinnah Express train
would be gradually upgraded within one an half month.
He said that another new VIP train Sir Syed Express would
also be inaugurated soon.
