Daily Times

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed said on Saturday that a new strategy has been adopted aimed at making Pakistan Railways a profitable institution.

In his brief chat with journalists in Risalpur, the minister pledged that measures are being explored to run locomotives with latest technology.

In addition, foreign entrepreneurs would be offered incentives to invest in Pakistan Railways which would help multiply railways revenue.

He went on to say that strategy is being evolved for welfare of workers of Pakistan Railways, warning that ghost employees working in the department would be sacked.

He said ousted ?prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari had looted the nation.

From now onwards, he said the people of the country would decide ?between a ‘thief’ and a ‘guardian’.

It is pertinent to mention that tomorrow (Monday), the National Accountability Bureau had summoned three railway officials in connection with a scandal regarding purchase of expensive train engines.?

The officials have alleged former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique of assistance in ?this regard.

Earlier in October, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed had said that Pakistan Railways was planning to launch a new train named Rehman Baba for low income people.

He had said the feasibility of the new train was under process and it would be only economy class that would meet the need of poor people of the country.

Regarding the Main Line-1 and Main Line-II, the minister had said his Ministry is going to take important decisions about these lines in coming 30-60 days.

In August this year, he had said that he would need at least four months to bring Pakistan Railways “back on its feet”.

Published in Daily Times, November 25^th 2018.