Sharif says Rs 10b deficit of railways reduced

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LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif accompanied by Railway Officials are inaugurating the Railway Double Track from Lodhran, Multan to Raiwind. INP PHOTO

Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the resources of poor nation were looted ruthlessly during dictatorial era and national economy was affected due to corruption.

He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of railways double track from Lodhran to Raiwind at Premnagar. After the inauguration of the double track from Lodhran to Raiwind, the project of double railway line from Lahore to Karachi has been completed. Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique, Parliamentary Secretary Railways Ashfaq Kirmani, Chief Executive Officer Railways Javed Anwar, Chairperson Railways Parveen Agha, Railways officials and a large number of workers were present on the occasion.

He said when the PML-N came into power, railway and other national institutions were presenting awful stories. He said Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his team under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have done historic job for improving the railways system. He said due to their hard work, struggle and continuous efforts, Rs 10 billion deficit of railways has been reduced and its system improved considerably.

The chief minister said that 15 million passengers who had left traveling through railways have again come in railways system. He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a national project and all units of Pakistan will benefit from it. He said under CPEC, $ 36 billion dollars are being spent only on energy projects which are China’s investment, out of which, $ 2.5 billion are being spent on energy projects in Punjab while $ 9 billion on energy projects in Sindh.

Sharif said energy projects are also being set up in Gwadar, Balochistan and KP. He said the Punjab gave Rs 11 billion annually to other provinces out of its share and got approved National Finance Commission Award. He said the Punjab government has given Rs 55 billion to other provinces in this regard. He said Pervaiz Musharaf despite dictatorship and all his powers, could not get approved National Award Commission and this achievement was made by politicians and sacrifice of Rs 55 billion of Punjab borne fruit.

Briefing: Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, a lot of hard work has been made for energy projects during two and a half years. He said the Punjab government is working on 8,500 MW energy projects from its own resources and under China Pakistan Economic Corridor and after completion of these projects, there will be considerable reduction in loadshedding in 2017. The chief minister said that speedy and transparent completion of projects is being ensured and a glorious example has been set by saving billions of rupees of the nation through transparency in the projects. He said there is no such example of starting and completing projects transparently in the history of Pakistan in the past and government has promoted new trends by ensuring transparency and high quality in the projects.

He expressed these views while talking to senior journalists and anchor persons, here on Saturday. A detailed briefing was given to senior journalists and anchor persons about the progress on Orange Line Metro Train Project and energy projects.