Sharif inaugurates Islamabad-Karachi Greenline Train

• PM lauds significant improvement in Pakistan Railways; praises Saad Rafique for putting department ‘back on track’
• Says Kashgar-Karachi track will change destiny of region

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated Pakistan’s first ever ‘modern’ train – the Greenline Train – on Thursday that will cover the Karachi-Islamabad route in 23 hours, and praised Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for turning around a department in dire straits.

Appreciating the facilities in the new train service, which include comfortable sleepers, WiFi availability, meals, newspapers and air-conditioned rooms, the premier took special note of the train’s toilets, saying that “toilets in the newly inaugurated train were far better than the ones in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) jets”.

According to Pakistan Railways officials, the train will leave Margalla Railway Station at 3:15pm and will reach Karachi at 2:30pm the next day, making stops at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Rohri and Hyderabad stations during its journey.

Officials also said that apart from offering online booking and other essential services, all passengers have also been insured for a million rupees, which was also pointed out by the prime minister during his address.

Sharif also took the opportunity to lay out his government’s achievements on the economic front. He said swift economic activity had started across the country and the people of Pakistan were about to witness a revolutionary change in the years ahead.

The premier also talked on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “I hope the China Pakistan Economic Corridor would benefit from the improvement of services of Pakistan Railways.”

He said he envisioned a train service from Kashgar to Karachi, and also wanted to make possible train travel to Turkey.

Sharif said the PML-N government was committed to reviving all national institutions, adding that the revival of Pakistan Railways was reflection of that commitment.

The prime minister eulogized the leadership qualities of Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and said he has demonstrated how a visionary and energetic leader can make a difference with existing staff and resources.

He said that Saad had put the declining Railways back on track of revival just in two years by activating its employees. He said it was he who had decided to give the Railways portfolio to Saad Rafique.

Sharif pointed out that Railways’ income was Rs 18 billion in 2012-13, which increased to Rs 23 billion in 2013-2014 and now the management was expecting to generate a revenue of Rs 31 billion this year.

He said the government is establishing coal-based power plants at Jamshoro, Rahimyar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Sahiwal and the responsibility of supplying coal to these plants has been assigned to Pakistan Railways.

He also lauded Railways for retrieving its 3,000 acres land from land-grabbers which has a value of Rs 10 billion. He said that the increase in resources would be spent on improving Pakistan Railways and for the benefit of its employees.