KARACHI:
The government has started negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $2 billion loan to modernize Pakistan’s railways, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, stressing that the Center would work with all provinces to extend the railway network to Central Asia.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new Shalimar Express and the newly renovated waiting areas and lounges of Karachi Cantt Railway Station, the Prime Minister said digitalization of railways and provision of modern facilities would play a key role in strengthening the national economy.
He said at the ceremony that the federal government in collaboration with the Sindh government would modernize the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and upgrade all railway stations in Sindh and across the country. “Such improvements are essential to improve travel conditions and economic stability.”
Shehbaz praised the efforts of Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi to modernize the railway system. “After revamping the Lahore railway station, the Karachi Cantt railway station has also been modernized with contemporary facilities,” he noted.
“All railway stations in the province will be modernized in coordination with the Sindh government to ensure better travel facilities for passengers, he added. Shehbaz highlighted that the Shalimar Express, connecting Karachi and Lahore, has been converted into a new modernized train.
He reiterated that cooperation with the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan would continue to ensure modernization of the railway network and help stabilize the economy.
Shehbaz called Abbasi the “hero of today’s ceremony” and praised him for transforming the obsolete railway system. He said 154 railway stations had already been upgraded and once all stations, big or small, were upgraded, he would recommend a presidential award for the railway minister.
The prime minister said at the ceremony that Abbasi had initiated discussions with the ADB for a $2 billion loan to further modernize Pakistan’s railways. He assured full cooperation for the inclusion of the KCR project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), terming it an important initiative.
Addressing the ceremony, Railway Minister Abbasi said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, significant improvements had been achieved in just eight months, including the modernization of Karachi Cantt railway station and renewal of Shalimar Express.
He added that one billion rupees is being spent to upgrade the Rohri railway station, while work is also underway at the Karachi city railway station. He added that 14 trains are being outsourced under government policy, and hospitals and railway schools are also being handed over to private administration.
He assured that the government would provide full protection to railway employees. The minister also said that work on the ML-1 [Mainline] the project is also progressing.
Earlier, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah welcomed the Prime Minister and reaffirmed the full cooperation of the Sindh government.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the new Shalimar Express at Karachi Cantt railway station and inspected the modernization works. He toured the upgraded waiting room, lounge, state-of-the-art dining room and computerized ticketing system.
The ceremony was also attended by parliamentarians and diplomats, as well as senior officials from the federal and provincial governments. Earlier, Shehbaz was warmly welcomed by the Chief Minister during a day-long visit to Karachi.
Later in the day, Shehbaz visited the residence of late Aftab Shaban Mirani, former chief minister and member of the National Assembly, and expressed condolences to the bereaved family over his demise. Shehbaz Sharif visited the residence of Jam Karam Ali and Jam Qaim Ali during Monday’s visit.
(WITH INPUT FROM THE APPLICATION)
