Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on Saturday said that five dry ports will be restored and made functional by March this year. Talking to media here after inaugurating the freight train at dry port Mughalpura, the minister said that business community should avail the facilities and railway officials will fully co-operate and facilitate them to run their business.

He further claimed that corruption rate had been reduced during the current regime and termed the Transparency International report as fake. In response to a question, he said corruption or commission in wheat management was out of question, adding mismanagement and miscalculations in data could be the reason of shortage of flour in the country.

Minister said on that 2020 would be the year of prosperity and development for the country. He said price control committees should be formed to monitor the prices of commodities, adding prices of sugar will be discussed in the cabinet meeting.

The minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan was an honest politician and he did not tolerate corruption at any cost. He said the prime minister was voice of poor and wanted to give more employment, adding he (Imran) was working to uplift the country's economy as strong economy meant more employment.

To another question about any deal with PML-N leader Marryum Nawaz, Sheikh Rashid said no deal was under way, adding why the government would make any deal when opposition was already inactive and there was no threat to the government from the opposition.

Responding to a question about Kashmir, he said February 5 will be observed as not only the solidarity with Kashmir day but the Pakistani Nation would also express its solidarity with the people of India who were protesting against the controversial citizenship law.