RAWALPINDI: Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday said that the department has set a target of receiving Rs10 billion in profit margins for the Financial Year 2018-19.
Talking to media at the Rawalpindi Railway Hospital, Rasheed vowed that the task given to him by Prime Minister Imran Khan as focal person for Leh Expressway Project would be completed soon.
He announced that a new train would commence its operations from Karachi to Peshawar, covering the distance of 1,760km in eight hours at the speed of 160km per hour.
Rasheed linked the benefits of the construction of China Pakistan Economic Corridor with the development of the railways’ department. “CPEC is the backbone of the economy and revolutionary changes would be carried out in the rehabilitation of railways with the support of China,” he added.
Criticising the previous governments for spending exorbitantly on the construction of roads, he said there was a dire need to improve the condition of tracks, which are currently in dilapidated conditions.
Rasheed informed the media that there were 2,000 railway crossings without gates, adding that the construction of gates has become difficult given the limited resources of his ministry. He urged the people not to play cricket on railway tracks, as it could lead to fatal accidents.
Rasheed said that the number of freight trains would be increased as it was imperative for the profit of Pakistan Railways.
He announced that a new train would be added to the green line service while work was in progress with regard to the commencement of two new trains from Quetta to Karachi.
“I had earlier asked the residents residing along with the Leh nullah not to sell their properties as now they are going to become millionaires with the construction of the expressway,” he mentioned.
The minister said that the previous rulers destroyed the economy of the country, adding 2019 would be the year of Imran Khan’s success.
