Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that rail journey time from Lahore to Karachi will be curtailed four to five hours, as 46 railway crossings are being closed on this track and the next year would be celebrated as "railways year."
While addressing a press conference here on Friday, Sheikh Rashid said that railway was also introducing shuttle trains service between Rawalpindi and Peshawar from December 1. The fare of this train would be very reasonable, he said, adding that six trains would move on the track and would complete three shuttle trips a day.
He said those trains would be run for three months on experimental basis. He said that contract worth Rs 5.5 billion had been awarded to FWO for doubling the track from Khanewal to Raiwind, adding that the Prime Minister would inaugurate Raiwind to Lodhran track next week.
He said that different private companies had shown their interest for launching new trains on railway tracks, and added that 10 international companies had also shown their interest for introducing bullet train in Pakistan.
About the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, he said they must raise the issues on the platform of national assembly instead of taking to streets. He said present country's situation did not allow politicising the national issues.