Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Saturday that the Pakistan Railways will be connected with Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia. "Turkey and Iran have also assured their full assistance to the Pakistan Railways in this regard," Sheikh Rashid said while addressing the workers of Railways Workshop Mughal after inspecting the racks of ''Jinnah Express'' which will soon be launched as a new non-stop train between Lahore and Karachi.
The Minister said this new train will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on March 30. "I have already discussed Sir Syed Express and Jinnah Express with the premier," he added. He said its fare will be Rs7000 while the fare for Sir Syed Express will be Rs10,000 despite all the resistance by the railways administration. He said people wanted to pay higher fare against facilities.
Sheikh Rashid said that railways were the only department which had created 10,000 jobs. He said workers of the railways would also be promoted and he would try to at least move every employee one grade ahead. He warned the officers not to recruit any employee negating merit and vowed to take strict action against any such officer.
He criticised the past government for spending Rs2 billion on up-gradation of 12 stations while need was to upgrade only Lahore, Karachi and few other big stations. He said Lahore is the life for Pakistan Railways and its railway station would be made exemplary. He also vowed to purge the institution of corruption. Chairman Railways Sultan Sikandar Raja, Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Aftab Akbar and other high railways officers were also present on this occasion.
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