PR financial crisis due to lack of investment: railways minister

CPEC, ML1, Pakistan Railways, Sheikh Rasheed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday said that Pakistan Railways was facing a severe financial crisis and termed lack of investment as key issue being faced by the department.

Rasheed made the statement during a briefing session by development projects to the Senate Standing Committee on Railways. He said that the final decision regarding ML-1 has not been made so far despite the provision of Rs4 billion. However, the department was out of funds to fulfil the demand for additional Rs7 billion for its designing.

He said that secret of Gwadar’s successfulness was railway track but not the road network and China has also agreed with Pakistan’s stance. He announced inclusion Quetta, Taftan, Herat, Kandahar routes in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project after discussions with Beijing in the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan expected on April 27 this year.

Read More: ML-1 up-gradation to bring economic revolution in country: Sheikh Rasheed

While briefing on illegal possession of railway land, the minister said that the authorities have actively recovered land from grabbing mafia till Takht-i-Bahi.

Rasheed said he had left railway signalling programme worth Rs8 billion since assuming charge of Pakistan Railways 15 years ago while its current financial value stood at Rs32 billion.

The standing committee was also provided briefing by PR Chief Engineer and Civil Operations over progress on CPEC projects. The chief engineer said the department put focus to complete Havelian-Khunjerab railway network till 2030 that would play a significant role in connecting with China.

Railway officials apprised the committee that the railway department will upgrade everything within the period of the next 5 years besides increasing number of freight trains.

Citing threats amid rising escalation between Pakistan and India, Chairman of the standing committee Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo directed railway officials to put on high alert amid emergency situation. He said that the nation was standing side-by-side with Pakistani armed forces. He added that Pakistan Railways always played role as important defence institution in past.

The post PR financial crisis due to lack of investment: railways minister appeared first on ARYNEWS.

Comments

Accountability court hears assets case against Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Wednesday resumed the hearing of a reference filed against former finance minister Ishaq Dar by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income. Judge Muhammad Bashir is recording the statement of a prosecution witness, Ishtiaq Ahmed. At the previous hearing, the accountability judge had reserved his verdict on an application filed by two co-accused seeking acquittal in the case. Naeem Mehmood and Mansoor Rizvi, who are directors of Dar’s companies, had filed the application requesting the judge to exonerate them from all charges for want of evidence. Qazi Misbah, the counsel for the two co-accused, contended the prosecution has failed to provide compelling evidence to prove the allegations leveled against his clients. The third co-accused President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Saeed Ahmed, had already filed an application before the court for his acquittal wh...

10 creepy celebrity wax statues

Waxworks of celebrities, sports persons and politicians such as Tom Cruise, Barack Obama and Christiano Ronaldo are admired by people all over the world. The craft requires taking careful and accurate measurements to create these wax statues, which are then polished and perfected to make for an exact replica. Madame Tussaud’s is one of the most famous museums in the world that displays wax statues, however, not all wax museums in the world craft flawless statues. Compiled from Cosmopolitan India , here is a list of the creepiest celebrity wax statues. Barack Obama PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN David and Victoria Beckham PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Jennifer Aniston PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Beyonce’s wax statue sparks outrage Jennifer Lopez PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Justin Bieber PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Justin Timberlake PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Aamir Khan PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN Katrina Kaif PHOTO: COSMOPOLITAN London’s Tussauds gets to work on Trump wax figure Selena Gomez PHOTO: C...

Qatar to hike minimum wage ‘by end of year’

DOHA: Qatar could increase the minimum wage for migrant workers by the end of 2018, unions predicted on Monday, as the 2022 World Cup host seeks to push through labour reforms. It would be the first change to the monthly wage since its introduction by the gas-rich Gulf state last November. “By the end of the year we expect a new minimum wage to be set, that’s good news,” said Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. Burrow did not name a figure but said the new wage would be calculated by assessing a “basket of goods”. She was speaking after meeting Qatar’s labour minister, Issa al-Jufali al-Nuaimi, and other government officials in Doha over the past two days. The minimum wage was set at 750 riyals a month ($206, 170 euro) on its introduction. In addition to the salary, labourers receive free accommodation, food and healthcare plans, covered by employers. The 750-riyal figure has been criticised as too low. “We believe it is not good e...

Siasat Wala Blog

Search This Blog