Karachi Circular Railway track to cleared within 15 days: Rashid

Railways minister says PM unable to accomplish his goal because of ‘corrupt mafia’

KARACHI: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Sunday that encroachments around the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) would be removed within 15 days in line with the orders of the Supreme Court.

“We will have a meeting on the KCR on Monday (today) where we will review all areas falling in its route,” he told reporters in Karachi.

“We will assist the Sindh government in every way possible in achieving this task as we are its well-wishers,” he added.

The minister said Karachi would witness the start of container-laden trains after a gap of 25 years. “The first [container-laden train] will set off from Karachi Port Trust at 1pm on Monday.”

50-foot area on either side of Karachi Circular Railway track to be cleared

Rashid said the primary reason behind Prime Minister Imran Khan being unable to accomplish his goals was the reign of the corrupt mafia.

Taking a jibe at the opposition parties gathering at an Iftar-dinner in Islamabad, the minister said: “All rotten eggs have gathered for Iftar even though they are not even fasting.”

He added that the politics of the Sharif family and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had come to an end.

“Every party has the right to run their political movements but these are tested people notorious for their character,” he added.

“After Shehbaz Sharif, Zardari is also seeking an NRO. But they will both get nothing.”

Top court gives one month to revive Karachi Circular Railway

The minister held the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP responsible for the increasing prices of essential items.

“The PML N will have to carry its political funeral. Everyone knows that they are thieves and robbers.”

The minister also said the protests and marches announced by opposition parties were unlikely to receive a positive response.