PM to sign pact with China for laying new railway tracks: Sh Rashid

LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Friday a new railway track would be laid in the country, and Prime Minister Imran Khan would sign an agreement with the Chinese authorities in this regard, during his upcoming Beijing visit.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan would travel by Sir Syed Express upon his arrival in Rawalpindi after completion of visits to China and Iran. He said the premier would invite Chinese and Iranian ambassadors and their families for a train journey. He said foreign envoys, along with their families, would also be taken to Attock Khurd by a train.

The minister said Pakistan Railways recorded an increase of Rs3 billion in its revenue during the last six months. To a question, the minister said all cases against leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), being heard by the courts currently, were registered by the two parties against each other during their governments. He said criticising country’s justice system was inappropriate as Nawaz Sharif filed cases against Asif Zardari during his government and vice versa. Taking a jibe at opposition leader in Punjab Assembly, Hamza Shahbaz, the minister said “a politician becomes coward when he earns money through illegal means”. In reply to a question, he termed PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari a kid and advised him to be careful in politics.

The minister also announced laying foundation stone of a post-graduate college and upgradation of a degree college to university. About Indian elections, he said situation could worsen if Narendra Modi failed to grab required seats in the upcoming polls. He also said that the Modi government could create more problems in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) through its subversive activities. Later, he left for Rawalpindi by a train, along with Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and other ministers.