Bhutto also took many U-turns: Sheikh Rashid

Says corrupt politicians will be gone by March 2019

LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said change of strategy should not be called a U-turn.

Referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement on U-turn, the railways minister while speaking at presser on Tuesday, defended him by claiming Pakistan Peoples Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto also took many U turns in his political career.

“I don’t understand why media is criticising PM Imran on his statement, we cannot label change of strategy by a premier as U-turn,” he said adding he can give several instances where the PPP founder also took U-turns on demand.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and PPP are on the verge of their political death. “Till March nation will see a clean sweep of old-corrupt politicians, only Allah can save them,” said Rashid claiming that after the 2019-20 budget things including economy will witness a visible recovery.

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief also feared that Asif Ali Zardari's persona may hit PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's political future. “I feel a resemblance of late Benazir in Bilawal, but Zardari's past record can hit him badly”, he said referring to ongoing money laundering investigations by the government.

Talking about current economic crisis he said Pakistan has just averted a default.



“The prime minister is working hard and his recent visits of Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates have helped Pakistan secure a package to come out of a possible default," he said.

According to him Pakistan failed to get benefits of its geographical position. “Countries are working on joint railway networks, examples of which are available across our borders, now Turkey, Germany and Russia have shown their interest in our tracks," he said without elaborating.

Earlier, Pakistan Railways and National Railway Administration of China (NRAC) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for carrying out feasibility report to upgrade PR’s track from Peshawar to Karachi or the Mainline-I — a strategic scheme under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The NRAC will complete initial report of project’s phase-I i.e. infrastructure and design by Dec 25,” Minister said.

Terming the ML-I upgrade plan backbone of the CPEC project, Rashid said that PR is also keen on engaging Chinese to upgrade its strategic Mainline II and III tracks.

“If our plan to engage Chinese for the upgrade projects under CPEC succeeds, around 100,000 new jobs will be created in the Pakistan Railways,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, the federal minister announced PM Imran would inaugurate four more passenger trains at a ceremony on Nov 23 at the PM House. “This will complete our target to run 10 more passenger trains under our first 100-day plan”.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan Railways has left far behind in an era when the world is witnessing revolution in this mode of transportation,” lamented the minister assuring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government would make railways a vibrant and progressive department which can cater to the present day needs,” concluded Rashid.