ISLAMABAD: The government is all set to issue tender of the strategic project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - $6.8 billion railway modernisation Main Line-1 (ML-1) by the end of this month.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday said that Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved ML-1 project and tender would be issued by August 31.

The railway track will be changed after 150 years since its formation in 1886, said the minister, while addressing at the ground-breaking ceremony of a new block for Rawalpindi Women University.

Talking about the cabinet's decision about extradition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Railways minister said he was standing with the cabinet's decision but did not think Nawaz Sharif would return as there was no such contract between Pakistan and England.

Prime Minister Imran Khan achieved everything, which he attempted, said the minister, adding it was too early to say anything about bringing the PML-N leader back to the country.

Ahmed said the opposition wanted government to abolish the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), so that corrupt people could not be held accountable.

"NAB is an independent institution and plunderers belonging to former ruling parties PPP and PML-N would not escape from punishment," he added.

Criticising the opposition, he said the opposition had been exposed through Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related legislation.

The government had not faced defeat regarding the FATF issue, but it was the opposition, which had been exposed, he added.

The new block of Women University would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs70 million.

The minister said he wanted to make another university in the city.

A well-equipped Railways University would soon be established at Rawalpindi in cooperation with the Chinese government, he added.

The minister said Rawalpindi would soon become a unique city having three women universities.

Setting up of another women university in Rawalpindi was a difficult task but hectic efforts were made for the sixth road university.

He said nobody could defeat daughters of Rawalpindi because they were getting higher education from well-equipped colleges and universities set up by the government.

Ahmed said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar were showing keen interest in bringing change in health and education sectors.

He said, "We have inaugurated Government Postgraduate College for Women, Railway Station Road last week. The college was completed at a cost of Rs100 million."

"When we started to focus on education, the city was at 27th position in Punjab, but, now we are at first position in women education," he added.

He said efforts would be made for up-gradation of the Government Viqarun Nisa Postgraduate College to the status of university.

The minister said Leh Expressway project worth Rs70 billion would also be constructed by the incumbent government, adding the project had Rs26 billion total cost when conceived but unfortunately, it could not be executed for over 12 years.

The minister said that a "Mother and Child Hospital" project was being completed in Rawalpindi at a cost of Rs6 billion, adding, the hospital would have 14 state-of-the-art operation theatres, where almost 60 to 70 percent construction work had been completed.

He said, "We are going to spent Rs1.25 billion on Civil Hospital, Raja Bazaar. It would be fully upgraded and the project would be launched this month. We will try to demolish the Roze Cinema, so that OPD and Emergency of the hospital could be constructed there. We have arranged Rs400 million grants for up-gradation of the hospital. Civil Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital will be upgraded," he said.

He said that solid steps were being taken to resolve basic issues regarding the supply of clean drinking water, provision of standard education, and improved healthcare facilities for which maximum resources were being utilised.

To a question, he said, a desiltation project was launched to clear Nullah Leh nearly two months ago due to which, Rawalpindi city was protected from devastation from flashfloods during monsoon season.

"Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar is not going anywhere," said the minister, adding Karachi and Lahore were inundated by rainwater and people were cursing the parliamentarians.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020