LAHORE (APP) - Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said on Tuesday that Pakistan Railways would reduce costs and improve connectivity to ensure more facilitation for the business community at large.
He was talking to businessmen here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI). Abbasi said that Pakistan has regained its reputation as a responsible and peace-loving country at the global level.
“We are not terrorists but ambassadors of peace.” Since May 10, Pakistan’s international image has improved. Due to Pakistan’s successful foreign policy, the Middle East, China, and the United States are now looking at Pakistan from the same perspective, boosting Pakistan’s respect in the world, he said.
He said that now it is the best time and opportunity to improve Pakistan’s economy so the business community should have confidence, asserting that when investment comes, industries will run and the country will progress.
Hanif Abbasi said that national security ensures national development. “We were once on the ventilator, but not anymore.”
The railways minister said that cooperation between Railways and the Punjab government is increasing, and the prime minister has given a special task for railway reforms.
He said Chambers represent the business community, and people who call taxpayers thieves are themselves thieves. Stakeholders must be taken on board, and extra burden on taxpayers is unacceptable.
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol said that upgrading railway lines is a welcome and critically important step for economic improvement.
Responding to business community concerns and suggestions, Hanif Abbasi said that railway stations and the entire network are being upgraded.
A total of 400 kilometres of new track is being laid and 484 kilometers is being uplifted. Two billion rupees have been allocated for upgrading the Lahore–Rawalpindi single track, with plans to reduce travel time between both cities to 2.5 hours.
Development works are underway at major stations including Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Rohri. Approval for the Rohri–Karachi upgrade worth Rs 2 billion will be granted in July. The Narowal section and Lodhran station are also being uplifted, while plantation from Shahdara to Raiwind will help improve the environment.
He said Pakistan is the only country where passenger revenue is higher than freight revenue, and this imbalance is being corrected.