NOWSHERA, Jan 10 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said Pakistan Railways would be upgraded with far-reaching reforms in infrastructure and operational system to facilitate the common man as a major beneficiary.
“With emancipation of common people as central to my government’s policies, Pakistan Railways will witness immense uplift through mega projects,” he said in his address following the inauguration of Azakhel Dry Port, some eight kilometres from Nowshera.
The prime minister said the Azakhel Dry Port would provide quality transportation and logistic services.
Spread over 28 kilometres, the state-of-the-art dry port has been completed by Pakistan Railways with an estimated cost of Rs 507 million in a record one year time.
The prime minister lauded the efforts of Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on the completion of the project pending since 2006 and also for Rs 10 billion revenue generation by Pakistan Railways last year.
He said the Main Line rail track, commonly known as ML-1, to be built with collaboration of China, would prove to be a revolution in the country’s railway system.
Imran Khan said the biggest challenge for his government was to make Pakistan a welfare state for the emancipation of downtrodden, terming 2020 the year of employment and progress. In that respect he mentioned Ehsaas, the country’s largest ever social welfare programme, which which Rs 190 billion had been allocated for loans, skill training, 50,000 higher education scholarships and health cards.
He said the government would construct five million affordable houses to accommodate low-income groups and the step would benefit 40 affiliated industries.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and Railway Minister Shiekh Rasheed were also present on this occasion.
Source: VNS, Islamabad
