AML chief Sheikh Rashid. PHOTO: AGENCIES/FILE
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he termed the new train a big achievement of Pakistan Railways. "It is actually a gift of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the brave Pashtun people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)," he said.
The train has a record low fare of Rs1,350 for 26-hour journey, keeping in view the low-paid workers, he said.
The minister said 'Rehman Baba Express' would not only reduce the traveling time between Peshawar and Karachi but also facilitate passengers on affordable fares. He added that low-fare 'Rehman Baba Express' would facilitate travelers by saving their precious time.
He informed that 20 new trains and three tourist trains would be launched in 2019 while government was also planning to start two VVIP trains along with fleet trains for the business and traders community from Karachi to Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
He said the number of trade trains would also be increased up to fifteen for boosting economic activities. About the ML-I, the minister informed that an agreement would be inked in March next year for placing new railway track from Karachi to Peshawar, adding the government would change the infrastructure of railway tracks in the country.
He said after laying of new tracks from Peshawar to Karachi, it would become viable to run a train over a speed of 160 to 260 km per hour which could further decrease the traveling time between Peshawar to Karachi to 8 hours.
Govt to launch 20 new trains by next year: Rashid
The minister said he would monitor the operation of trains and take result oriented steps to bring further improvement in working of railways. He added that railways upgrade would also help increase economic activities in the country.
"We have introduced 20 trains in 100 days which is a record and they were not imported from elsewhere rather the workers and laborers of Railways worked day and night for revamping and rehabilitating the engines," he added.
The minister said the government was also going to introduce three Safari Trains to promote tourism. He expressed the hope that the K-P government would help out in this connection.
He said for facilitating the business and traders community, Railways was going to run eight to 10 fleet trains carrying more weights. He said on Dec 25, 2018 a container train would be opening up from Karachi and the second such container train would be launching on January 25, 2019 to extend due facilities to the business and traders community.
"We will be achieving a target of 15 fleet trains and among them two to three trains would be given even to the private sectors. He said with these trains, Railways could be able to be more stronger financially and could release its debts as well and added that with passenger training, it is not possible to running the fleet trainer would certainly lessor burden of debts on Railways.
K-P Information Minister Shoukat Yousazai, Adviser to Chief Minister on IT Kamran Bangash, Nazim Peshawar Muhammad Asim, Chairman Railways Raja Sultan Sikander, GM Aftab Akbar, Division Superintendent (DS) Waqar Ali Shahid, officials, workers and large number of passengers going to Karachi on 'Rehman Baba Express' were also present
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