Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed confidence that Pakistan would conclude a deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the current month in a bid to overcome the financial challenges. Addressing at the launch of the Green Line train service between Islamabad and Karachi, the prime minister said the headway in talks with IMF would help the country address the current economic situation. The IMF delegation will be visiting Islamabad from January 31 to February 9 to continue discussions regarding the ninth review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The prime minister emphasized the adoption of austerity at massive scale to tackle difficult economic problems. He said the government had set its priority keeping in view its foreign exchange reserves, thus allowing the import of medicines and food as essential items. He said courageous nations stand united while braving the challenges with resilience. Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that with dedication and commitment, the country would soon regain its glory. He regretted that the Green Line project, which was initiated during the tenure of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was delayed by the previous government in a mala fide manner. He endorsed the concept of outsourcing Pakistan Railways to make it better equipped and at par with contemporary services. The prime minister said Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway track was a top priority for the government and mentioned that China was committed to its early completion. He pointed out that the previous government indulged in baseless accusations of corruption against Chinese companies, and stressed that the coalition government was working on restoring the bilateral ties. The new train service, comprising modern coaches imported from China, was launched from the Margalla railway station, in the Federal Capital. The prime minister visited various coaches of the train and appreciated the services provided for the travellers to make their journey comfortable. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday recalling the long-standing and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatartwo countries, underscored the importance of translating this relationship into concrete economic partnership. The prime minister was taking to Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Pakistan, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who called on him here. The ambassador shared a special goodwill message of Amir of Qatar with the prime minister. The prime minister congratulated Qatar on hosting the most successful FIFA World Cup in history and noted with appreciation the important role played by Pakistani security forces for ensuring foolproof, unblemished and impeccable security at the event. Reiterating his resolve to work towards further expansion and diversifying of bilateral cooperation, the prime minister highlighted trade, investment, energy and manpower sectors in this regard. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Israel continued to massacre innocent Palestinians with impunity and expressed support for the people of Palestine. “Pakistan stands with the people of Palestine,” he said in a tweet. Shehbaz Sharif said killing of 10 Palestinians including an elderly woman in Occupied West Bank called for the strongest condemnation. He stressed sustainable peace in the Middle East, saying that it was linked to two-state solution.