KARACHI:
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced on Monday that work on the 480 km Rohri-Karachi track will begin in September at an estimated cost of $2 billion.
The minister was addressing a ceremony organized in Karachi to mark the initial launch of the Karachi campus of Pakistan International Railway School, aimed at providing world-class education within a framework of national partnership and common growth.
Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi, Railway Secretary Mazahar Ali Shah, Managing Director Hafeezullah, Managing Director Rubina Nasir, TIS CEO Taymur Mirza and others attended the ceremony.
Elaborating the measures to improve the Rohri-Karachi section of the double main line, the minister said that it was the most difficult track constructed in the 1860s. The Prime Minister decided that the 480 km long Rohri-Karachi track would be rejuvenated at an estimated cost of $2 billion and the foundation stone of the work is expected to be laid in September this year.
The minister chalked out various measures to improve railway stations, platforms and other facilities and informed that the process of complete digitalization of Pakistan Railways was underway and it would be completed within a month.
Abbasi said that Pakistan Railways and the Punjab government had signed an agreement to modernize and develop railway services across the province. The project included development of fast and regional roads in the province and introduction of modern and advanced trains, while the Punjab government will provide advanced Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) locomotives.
While referring to the escalating situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s diplomatic role in defusing tensions, the minister said Pakistan had become the center of attention of the entire world.
We not only averted a conflict between two brotherly countries – Saudi Arabia and Iran – but also prevented the outbreak of World War III through successful diplomatic and mediation efforts which the world will remember forever, he noted, attributing this feat to the martyrs and personnel of the valiant armed forces of Pakistan.
Abbasi said Pakistan would soon begin development of a railway linking Central Asia and Europe via Iran. Work on the 900 km long Rohri-Naukundi stretch has already been started as per the directives of the Prime Minister and the tender process for laying a new railway track on the 87 km Naukundi-Taftan stretch has been initiated.
Replying to a question, he said a project to connect Thar Coal with the railway line was underway and the track from Islamkot to Chhor was expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Sindh Governor Muhammad Nehal Hashmi, addressing the occasion, said that railways are not only the most important and cheapest source of transportation for the common man but also connect the entire Pakistan and the culture, languages and hearts of people belonging to different parts of the country.
With the contribution of the APP
