KARACHI:
The government has initiated negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $2 billion loan to upgrade the Pakistan Railways, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, stressing that the Centre would work with all the provinces to extend the railway network to Central Asia.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new Shalimar Express and the newly upgraded waiting areas and lounges at Karachi Cantt Railway Station, the prime minister said that digitisation of the railways and provision of modern facilities would play a key role in strengthening the national economy.
He told the ceremony that the federal government, in collaboration with the Sindh government, would modernise the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and upgrade all railway stations across Sindh and the entire country. “Such improvements are essential to improve travel conditions and economic stability.”
Shehbaz praised the efforts of Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for modernising the railway system. “After revamping the Lahore Railway Station, now Karachi Cantt Station has also been upgraded with contemporary facilities,” he noted.
“All railway stations in the province would be modernised in coordination with the Sindh government to ensure better travel facilities for the passengers, he added. Shehbaz pointed out that the Shalimar Express, running between Karachi and Lahore, has been converted into a new upgraded train.
He reiterated that cooperation with the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and Balochistan would continue to ensure modernisation across the railway network and to help stabilise the economy.
Shehbaz called Abbasi as “hero of today’s ceremony,” and praised him for transforming the outdated railway system. He said that 154 railway stations have already been modernised, and once all stationsbig or smallare upgraded, he would recommend a presidential award for the railways minister.
The prime minister told the ceremony that the Abbasi has initiated discussions with the ADB for a $2 billion loan to further upgrade Pakistan Railways. He assured his full cooperation for inclusion of the KCR project in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), terming it an important initiative.
Addressing the ceremony, Railways Minister Abbasi said that under the prime minister’s guidance, significant improvements have achieved in just eight months, including the modernisation of the Karachi Cantt Station and the renewal of the Shalimar Express.
He added that Rs1 billion is being spent on upgrading Rohri Station, while work is also under way at the Karachi City Station. He added that 14 trains are being outsourced under government policy, and railway hospitals and schools are also being given to the private administration.
He assured that the government would ensure full protection for the railways employees. The minister also said that work on the ML-1 [Mainline] project is also progressing.
Earlier, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah welcomed the prime minister and reaffirmed full cooperation from the Sindh government.
The prime minister inaugurated the new Shalimar Express at Karachi Cantt Station and inspected the modernisation works. He visited the upgraded waiting area, lounge, state-of-the-art dining hall and computerised ticketing system.
The ceremony was also attended by Parliamentarians and diplomats, senior officers from the federal as well as provincial governments. Earlier, Shehbaz was warmly received by the Chief Minister on a day-long visit to Karachi.
Later in the day, Shehbaz visited the residence of former chief minister and National Assembly Member late Aftab Shaban Mirani, and expressed condolences to the bereaved family over his passing. Shehbaz Sharif visited the residence of Jam Karam Ali and Jam Qaim Ali during the visit on Monday.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
