Railways ready to operate special trains with PM's consent: minister

Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that the administration of Railways is ready to operate 20 special trains from April 14 with the consent of prime minister. He was addressing a press conference here on Saturday at Railways Headquarters.
Sheikh Rashid claimed that Railways continued its operation despite pressure during early days of the pandemic in the country just for the reason that citizens could return to their hometowns without facing travel problems.
He also claimed that Pakistan Army and the government were on the same page regarding the matter of lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.
He said the stance of Prime Minister Imran Khan was clear that the country could not meet the challenges of long-term lockdown, adding that the ISPR also issued the same statement.
In response to a question, he said that trains would be run after adopting full protective measures. The Railways will fulfil the requirements and standards of the masses, he added.
In response to another question, he said that salaried persons and pensioners of Railways would not be affected and they would get salaries as well as pensions according to schedule.
He said developed countries with mature economies were struggling in the face of massive fallout of coronavirus pandemic, but he assured that Pakistani government, despite its limited resources, was tackling the issue boldly by taking effective measures and planning.
He further said that big disasters were tests of the leadership, adding that some leaders like PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif were just criticising the government while sitting in front of laptops.
Commenting on the proposed corona relief tiger force, Sheikh Rashid said that some people were politicising the issue, adding that not a single penny would be spent on the force. To a question about figures of coronavirus patients in different provinces, he said there should be no discrimination among provinces as the coronavirus disturbed every province of the country.
When asked about the lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir, the minister said the nation was standing with its brothers in IoK. "Kashmiris are our brothers and we can never leave them alone," he said and strongly condemned the atrocities of Indian government and its army in the valley.