Railways eying $2.5b ADB loan for improving service

Minister stresses all best offers in railways’ interest should be considered

LAHORE: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a long-term strategic investment and partnership, which should not be made controversial at all, said Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique.

Speaking at a seminar on the “Future of Pakistan Railways and Logistics in the light of CPEC” at the University of Management and Technology, he said CPEC was a game changer for the country and a number of projects were being carried out, which would help strengthen the country.



The minister said there should be no politics on CPEC, adding the upgrade of Main Line-1 (ML-1) rail track between Karachi and Peshawar would be carried out under the mega project.

He recalled that recently chief ministers of the four provinces attended the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) forum, which was aimed at regional development, adding the presence of the chief ministers highlighted the positive image of the country at the international level.

Rafique emphasised that the continuity of democratic process was of high importance.

“We cannot depend on one opportunity and all best offers in the interest of the railways must be considered. Railways might get a concessionary loan of $2.5 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which will be utilised for strengthening different areas of the railways.”

A number of steps had been taken for bringing improvement in the department, the minister said, adding there was no political interference in the working of railways and the recruitment process had been made transparent.

He said pensioners had been facilitated by introducing the automated pension system, railways now had 20-day fuel stock, train punctuality had improved to 80%, the IT and legal affairs directorate had been set up and almost 96% railway land had been computerised.



He pointed out that rehabilitation work on the Pakistan Railways had started, which would later be upgraded, modernised and expanded, and all these steps needed time.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2017.

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