Summary The minister rejected all the allegation levelled by PTI against him.
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Sunday said that political opponents are trying to degrade him.
He was addressing the ceremony after formally inducting and launching the commercial services of modern 4000-Horse Power Freight Engines, imported from US.
The minister urged the PTI Chairman Imran Khan to avoid politics on national tragedies.
“No deal has been made with PPP. All such PTI allegations are baseless. Imran Khan rarely says anything sensible but the statement he gave after meeting with Army Chief was quite sane,” he said.
While talking about Sindh IG appointment, Saad Rafique asserted that Sindh government does not need an IG but a clerk.
He also criticized Asif Zaradari: “PPP should not talk about corruption. Instead of pointing out others Zardari should first see his own corruption.”
Talking about the project, he said that Pakistan Railways has purchased a total of 55 locomotives from USA, out of which 14 have reached Pakistan. The remaining will be provided by July this year.
He said that the purchase of these state-of-the-art engines has been done under the Pakistan’s vision 2025, so that the freight share of Railways to be enhanced.
The Minister said that out of 55 engines, 22 will be used for transportation of coal to the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant, while the rest will be used for freight trains.
Railways Minister said that the probe report regarding the recent accident on Sheikhupura-Nabi Pur railway crossing will be completed soon. He said that the accident was not due to drivers’ negligence.
He announced a financial compensation worth Rs12 lac and Rs9 lac for the families of driver and assistant driver of the train respectively. He also announced plots worth Rs5 million and job for one person each belonging to the departed families.
He said that the work on the latest signals system will have been completed before the work on CPEC is over. He told that Punjab Government has cooperated regarding the installation of gates on railway crossings while Sindh Government has also provided funds for installation of ten gates.
He pronounced that a proposal is also under consideration for construction of under-passes on railway crossings to avoid accidents in future.
Railways Minister said that due to successful government measures on war footings, the losses of Pakistan Railways have considerably been reduced.
