LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that the government attaches top priority to the enhancement of the railways’ revenue and reduction of its deficit.
He was chairing a high level meeting at the Railways Headquarters in Lahore.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said railways is facing a lot of problems which will be solved and we would invite the private sector to do business with railway.
He said that it is the need of the hour to establish the commercial plazas on the railways’ land to enhance the income of the department.
The Minister said we will establish the Sanitation Task Force to clean the areas, adjacent to the railways stations.
He said that he will work hard to improve the performance of railway and reduce its expenses and funds will be spent solely for the development of the department.
Rasheed sought details of protocol vehicles under use of the officials.
The Minister has clarified that the officials would no longer get expensive cars and protocol.
He said that government is committed to eliminate corruption from Pakistan Railways as Pakistan Railways is facing deficit of Rs40 billion which will be ended as per directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The minister said that any form of corruption will not be tolerated and employees involved in corruption will be handed over to National Accountability Bureau, adding that full cooperation will be provided to the anti-graft watchdog in this regard.
Rasheed announced that 32 railway stations will be upgraded across the country and double track will be laid from Peshawar to Lahore.
He went on to say that we will plant trees on both sides of the track across the country to secure the track.
Sheikh Rasheed announced that 5,000 houses will be built for grade-4 railway employees. NNI
