–Shiekh Rasheed inaugurates ‘Rehman Baba Express’ train
–Minister says upgrades to rail track in future to reduce travel times down to eight hours
PESHAWAR: Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday claimed that former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Tehmina Durrani is playing her role to get NRO, referring to the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had promulgated to settle pending cases, for her husband.
He also predicted that all “corrupt elements” including politicians would be behind the bars by March 2019.
“The former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was looking for NRO for his daughter Maryam Nawaz, but Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was not interested in any similar accord for Bilawal Bhutto rather using him [Bilawal] as a scapegoat,” the minister said talking to a news channel.
Rasheed said Imran Khan was the only person fighting against corruption and the whole nation was supporting and appreciating him for the cause. He said PM Imran took a stand on Panama case and led it to the logical end.
The federal minister stated that the public voted for Prime Minister Imran Khan to rid the country of corruption, saying, “The government will put all those who have looted the country behind bars.”
REHMAN BABA EXPRESS:
Rasheed earlier inaugurated the Rehman Baba Express high-speed train.
The Rehman Baba Express will help passengers travel between Peshawar and Karachi in 26 hours.
The high-speed train will pass between Multan, Nowshera, Bahawalpur, Attock City, Rawalpindi, Landhi, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Rahim Yar Khan, Rohri, Nawabshah and Hyderabad along the way.
While addressing the inauguration ceremony, the minister said that the fare for the train will be only Rs1,350. He announced that two VVIP nonstop trains will also be launched in the next two months as well as three trains for tourists.
“The express train is a gift to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he added.
He vowed to pay back the ministry’s Rs25 billion loan through fares. He said that VVIP services will be offered to passengers to pay off the loans of Pakistan Railways.
He added that he has already ordered the authorities to remove encroachments from around the Peshawar Railway Station. According to Rashid, the remaining encroached lands will also be recovered soon.
“About 20 new trains will be launched next year,” he said, adding that freight trains will also be increased from 10 to 15 to reduce the department’s losses.
He added Jahangira and Nowshera stations will be developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He explained that upgrades to the rail track in the future would reduce travel times down to eight hours.
Rasheed also announced that three new trains for safari tourism are planned as well.
