He said that initially a deal was being discussed but now a full package deal was being done. "Either it is deal or dheel (relief), it cannot be done without Prime Minister's consent. I'll make the nation aware of the facts," he declared. He said that he is a true friend of the Premier who told him about the reality. He declared that he would meet with the Prime Minister tomorrow.
He said that the Prime Minister had added his name to the Public Accounts Committee. "In Sha Allah (God Willing) I am going to contest a case against the thieves in Supreme Court. "It is because of these thieves that today the electricity tariff and POL prices have gone up," he declared. He regretted that a person wanted in dozens of dishonesty, corruption and kickbacks cases is the chairman of accountability in National Assembly today.
He said that the issuance of production order is a constitutional, legal and political misconduct and no law in the world allows production order for a person on remand. He said that he is not opposed to the speaker but his behaviour indicated that there is something fishy.
He said that he does not do the politics of provinces, adding that he has no objection to production order for Kh Saad Rafiq. He said that if Saad Rafiq and Rana Sana Ullah are made members of Public Accounts Committee, he had no objection on it. He said that Imran Khan could be blamed for anything but corruption.
He said that it is because of Imran Khan that money is coming from Saudi Arab and China. "But I tell you straightforward that we'll have to go to IMF in a few months," he predicted. He said that after IMF other banks like Islamic and Arab Bank would also approve loans.
He said that the impression that the passenger trains delivered losses is wrong. He said that the Railways institution is ruined by the looters and dacoits. He said that wherever he went, people asked him to tell Prime Minister not to forgive the dacoits.The Minister said that It was a great feat of Imran Khan who brought Three billion dollars from Saudi Arabia, Three from UAE and two from China. We would have to go to IMF, World Bank ,Islamic Bank and other financial institutions to save ourselves from bankruptcy.He said that that 20 more VIP passenger trains would also start soon while a number of freight trains are being introduced to facilitate the exporters, traders, and importers. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that a tendering process was being initiated to upgrade 1,680 km long track of ML-2 and ML-4 in addition to dualization of the Faisalabad-Lahore and Sialkot tracks, he added.
Sheikh Rashid said that previous rulers had pushed the economy at the verge of collapse. He added that:”We all are aware of the fact that a strong economy is imperative for defence and independent foreign policy”.
He said the present government had put the country in the right direction but it had to take bold and difficult decisions. The minister said the FCCI was the first platform that had realised the importance of economic stability and appreciated the decisions taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Finance Minister Asad Umar.
Sheikh Rashid said that former rulers spent 2 billion dollars to launch only 27km long orange line train. It was a luxurious spending as with this amount he could lay new track throughout Pakistan.
Regarding the financial affairs of the Railway, he said that Rs 35 billion were required to pay pensions, Rs 31 billion for salaries, Rs18 billion for oil and Rs 25 billion to pay the loan installments.
“We have to repair the old and abandoned bogies to start 20 new trains. Now we are planning to launch yet another 20 new VIP and high-speed passenger trains,” he added.
He said that Pakistan Railway could start high speed trains with a speed of 160km per hour after the completion of ML-1. The speed of these trains could be enhanced up to 260km per hour in later phase. He added that the travel between Lahore-Karachi would be possible only within 6-7 hours.
The minister said all over the world, passenger trains were not run for income generation but freight trains were meant for earning profit. He added that” Pakistan is the only country where we are earning a handsome profit of Rs 2 billion from the passenger trains”. He said Mohenjo-Daro Train was running successfully with the occupancy of 160 per cent. Similarly, the occupancy of Rehman Baba Train was 150 per cent.
He said that a new VIP ‘Jinnah Train’ would be launched between Lahore and Karachi from March 23. “We are also planning to start ‘Sir Syed Train’ which could be run between Faisalabad and Karachi,” he added.
He also assured of starting more trains from Faisalabad and said that local investors could start these trains by paying advance fare of 10 days only.
The minister said the private sector could also run trains by paying a reasonable rent for the track to Pakistan Railways. He added that recently two private trains had been started from Lahore and such trains could also be launched from Faisalabad on the same terms and conditions.
He assured of resolving problems being confronted by the Faisalabad Dry Port (FDP).
Responding to another question, he said the Pakistan Railways was planning to start online booking system to redress alleged misappropriation in the booking of passenger trains.
