Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that 'bullet train' will be launched from Rawalpindi to Lahore, the eight international companies, including France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Belgium, America, have shown expression of interest (EoI) in this regard and submitted their papers.
Pakistan will not launch freight train on Khokrapar track until India starts passenger train on the same track because Pakistan Railways will not spend Rs 1 billion on the Khokhrapar track just for the sake of "Mandi" we have, rather, spent a huge amount on the people to people contact. The aim was to facilitate the masses of the both countries.
While addressing a press conference here on Tuesday at Pakistan Railway Headquarter, he said that private train service would be started and in this regard 51 companies had submitted their expression of interest, which would soon be finalised.
The Pakistan Railways would make a modern with latest facilities junction at Khokhrapar for the benefit of the passengers he added.
The minister said that freight train was running daily from India to Pakistan via Wagha boarder, which was sufficient for the trading purpose. Approximately, 750 items were imported from India and only two items were exported to India ie salt and dry fruits.
He also said that four shuttle trains would be launched between Rawalpindi and Peshawar, besides circular trains at Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan.
He said the repair work of the Sanghala Hills track would be completed by November 15, and it would be a record to complete such huge work in a short span of time.
He said that within 24 days the 50 railway stations would be computerised as there was delay in this regard, but now the people involved in the negligence would be dealt with iron hands he pointed out. For the Raiwind, 20 special trains would be launched to facilitate the passengers, he added.