Concerted efforts required for development of railways

10 Dec, 2016

KARACHI: Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafiq Saturday promised that the service structure of the railways' employees would be finalized by the present government during its tenure.

Speaking at a ceremony at Loco Shed, Cantonment Station here, he declared that he was against privatization of Pakistan Railways.

He was of the view that we all need to work together for the development of Railways.

The Minister opined that the downfall of railways began some four decades ago in the year 1972 and if one says that everything would be alright in four to five years, then this would not be true.

`I am not Imran Khan to claim that railways would be set right in three months' time', Khawaja Saeed Rafiq remarked adding that atleast ten years are required for removing the ills of 40 years.

`We have accepted the challenge of rehabilitation and upgradation of Pakistan Railways', the Minister further remarked.

He said that the railways' deficit is being reduced in a gradual manner.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that railways' residential quarters were being constructed here at the cost of Rs 350 million.

He stated that the present government would award service structure for the railways' employees during its current tenure.

The Minister was of the view that if the people vote Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to power again in the 2018 general elections, the pace of development would be enhanced further.

He said that the success of the game-changer China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would also change the fate of the future generation.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq was of the view that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) should have been completed 20 years ago but no government paid attention towards this important project.

For revival of KCR, he assured that complete cooperation would be extended to Sindh Government.

The Minister pointed out that all expenditures were being paid from the revenue generated by Pakistan Railways.

He said that no one would be allowed to resort to nay black-mailing.

No recruitments would be made under any political pressure.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that pension to retired employees was being made on time.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2016

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