LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed said on Saturday that 10,000 new employees would be recruited in the department on urgent basis and a summary had been sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for approval in this regard. In a press conference held at the Pakistan Railways headquarters, he said that railways were facing shortage of 23,000 employees, however 10,000 of them were needed urgently on merit. The minister informed that railways had decided to operate three new trains from next month, adding that a new train would be operated between Lahore and Faisalabad from October 1, while Mohenjodaro Express and Rohi Express trains would be operated from October 16. To facilitate the passengers, the minister announced that all reservation offices across the country would remain opened until midnight and said that until December 30, reservation offices would remain open round the clock. Sheikh Rasheed said that it had been decided to offer private partners to come forward and take over Golra Railway Station to convert it in a food street and a picnic spot. He said that tenders for the provision of clean drinking water and other facilities would soon be granted. The minister said that Mainline-I and Mainline-II were important for the country from which ML-I had been kept under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) whereas the ML-II would be offered to the private investors for up-gradation on Build-Operate-Transfer basis. He said that Pakistan Railways committee for investment opportunities would meet every Thursday and the railways would welcome all investors. He said that no improvement had been made in the freight sector and the number of freight trains were the same as it was 12 years ago. He vowed to increase the number of freight trains from 10 to 15 within 120 days. The minister said that Karachi was being made freight headquarters for the railways as Karachi was hub of business. To a question, he said that response of new trains was very good and around average 600 passengers were travelling by the newly introduced trains. To another question, Rasheed said that he wanted to sell two to three railways plots in Lahore and Karachi to overcome railway deficit, adding that Rs 38 billion was the current deficit of the railways while it remained Rs 25 billion under debt. To another question about former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the minister said that PM Imran Khan did not believe in any deal, however, the government respected the decisions of the courts. He alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government was the most corrupt and dishonest government of the national history. He said that a number of pensioners had been reduced from 137,000 to 119,000. Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Aftab Akbar, Railway Police Inspector General Dr Mujeebur Rahman and other senior officers were also present. Rasheed said Wi-Fi facility will be made available in trains soon. He said he has summoned an inquiry report on the Khushal Khan Express incident, which will be furnished until September 30. It is pertinent to mention that over a dozen people had suffered injuries when seven bogies of Khushal Khan Express derailed near Mianwali last week. Published in Daily Times, September 23rd 2018.