KARACHI:
Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi announced on Monday that work on the 480 km Rohri-Karachi line will start in September at an estimated cost of Rs 2 billion.
The Minister was addressing a ceremony held in Karachi to mark the initial commencement of The International School Pakistan Railways Campus Karachi with the objective of providing world class education within the framework of national partnership and shared growth.
Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi, Secretary Railways Mazahar Ali Shah, GM Hafeezullah, DG Rubina Nasir, CEO TIS Taymur Mirza and others attended the ceremony.
Elaborating on the measures to improve the Rohri-Karachi section of the double main line, the minister said it is the most difficult track built in the 1860s. The Prime Minister has decided that the 480 km Rohri-Karachi track will be rejuvenated at an estimated cost of $2 billion and the foundation stone for the work is expected to be laid in September this year.
The minister elaborated various measures for the improvement of railway stations, platforms and other facilities and informed that the process of complete digitization of Pakistan Railways was underway and it will be completed within a period of one month.
Abbasi said Pakistan Railways and the Punjab government had entered into an agreement to modernize and expand railway services across the province. The project included development of fast and regional routes in the province and introduction of modern and state-of-the-art trains, while the Punjab government will supply advanced Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) locomotives.
While referring to the escalated situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s diplomatic role in de-escalating the tensions, the minister said that Pakistan had become the center of attention of the entire world.
We not only averted a conflict between two brotherly countries – Saudi Arabia and Iran – but also prevented the onset of World War III through successful diplomacy and mediation efforts that the world will remember forever, he noted, attributing the achievement to martyrs and personnel of Pakistan’s valiant armed forces.
Abbasi said that Pakistan will soon begin the development of a railway track connecting Central Asia and Europe via Iran. Work on the 900 km Rohri-Naukundi stretch has already started as per the directives of the premiere and tender process for laying new railway track on the 87 km Naukundi-Taftan stretch has started.
In response to a query, he maintained that a project to connect Thar Coal with the railway line was underway and the track from Islamkot to Chhor was expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Governor Muhammad Nehal Hashmi said that railways is not only the biggest and cheaper source of travel for common people but it also connects the whole of Pakistan and culture, language and hearts of people belonging to different regions of the country.
With input from APP
