On Monday, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique announced that the Karakoram Express and the Karachi Express trains will be upgraded to the Green Line pattern by June 30 this year. The upgrade aims to improve the travelling experience for passengers. The minister also disclosed that the ministry is in the process of outsourcing three airports, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, through competitive bidding. The restructuring of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is also being discussed with international consultants, and a roadmap for implementation will be provided in a few months. The minister expressed optimism that PIA would resume flights to the UK within a few months.
Moreover, the railways ministry plans to operate special Eid trains and seasonal trains such as the Awam Express, Shalimar Express, and Bahauddin Zakaria Express during summers. Additionally, the ministry is planning to introduce a cargo train with a capacity of transporting 12,500 tonnes of cargo. The minister further stated that the railways’ land would be utilised for commercial purposes, and preparations for introducing a solar system at stations, terminals, buildings, and headquarters to reduce electricity expenses were underway. The railways ministry had also decided to reduce freight fares by 10-15 per cent. Furthermore, the Hirok bridge would be completed by April 15, while efforts were underway to make the Sibi-Harnai section operational before the end of the fiscal year.
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The minister called for an end to political parties’ practice of levelling dirty allegations against each other and urged them to set aside their differences in the larger national interest.
