PM Khan launches 4 new train services

islamabad — Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday launched four new train services aimed at providing better commuting facilities to the people.

The new train services introduced by the Pakistan Railways include Sindh Express (Karachi to Sukkur), Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Express (Karachi to Mirpur Khas), extension of Faisalabad Express from Lahore to Multan and Rehman Baba Express (Peshawar to Karachi).

Addressing a ceremony held in connection with the launch in Islamabad, the premier said that nepotism and corruption had marred the government institutions and the incumbent government was pursuing policies of merit and transparency in the recruitment process.

He said it was the people who bore the brunt of corruption and political appointments.

Khan said the PR was incurring yearly losses of Rs45 billion but they have come down to Rs37 billion under Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s watch. Khan said the reason behind the downfall of public sector enterprises in the country was “political appointments”.

“The loss caused by political appointments which are not based on merit is borne by the people,” he said, adding that the Rs500 billion worth of losses incurred by government corporations will eventually be cut by increasing the rates of consumer goods.

Khan asked the railways minister to act against and remove the political appointees which he said have

“become a burden” on the department. He said the railways could become a highly profitable institution if people are appointed on merit.

The prime minister observed that on one hand state land worth billions of rupees, including ‘enemy properties’, has been illegally occupied, while on the other the country is “paying Rs6 billion in interest payments on loans on a daily basis”.

To remedy this, he said, the government is drafting a policy to utilise the occupied state properties and turn them into revenue-generating ventures. “We can sell several of these commercial properties to overseas Pakistanis and earn dollars for the country... to pay off our loans,” Khan said. —