Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that many leaders of the PML-N and the PPP would be disqualified in the near future as they are facing serious corruption cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
“Prime Minister Imran Khan can take a decision in favour of the country but will not give National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to the opposition,” the railways minister said while addressing a news conference on Thursday.
“Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of Opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab Hamza Shahbaz are facing serious charges of corruption,” Rashid said. “Nobody asked Maryam Nawaz why she remained silent for the last one year,” he said, claiming that Maryam would ruin the party just like she damaged her father Nawaz Sharif's reputation.
The minister said that the present democratic government and military leadership were on the same page with respect to issues of national interest and enjoy good working relations.
“The elected government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the military leadership want to move forward together to resolve all challenges confronting the country,” he said.
The minister said Premier Imran was working hard for poverty alleviation, job creation and putting the country on the path to development. “The incumbent government would complete its tenure and bring prosperity and progress in the country.”
He said Imran had made a clear statement about Pakistan’s stance on Israel.
On relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he said that regional affairs and security of Pakistan and KSA were interlinked.
Rashid said that Pakistan and China were enjoying cordial relations and their friendship was higher than Himalayas and deeper than the oceans. The minister said that he had earlier predicted that All Parties Conference (APC) would not be convened and aspirations of the opposition would not be fulfilled.
On the two-year performance of the Pakistan Railways, he said that approval of ML-1 project depicted the seriousness of the incumbent government; however, the coronavirus outbreak in the country had affected train operations across the country.
“After the British era, Imran’s government is giving a new life to the Pakistan Railways,” the minister added.
Rashid claimed that the economy of the country was strengthening owing to the prudent policies of the government, adding that the issues pertaining to sugar and wheat would also be resolved soon.
The minister further said that the ML-1 project would provide employment opportunities to over 150,000 people as 90% labour and technical staff would be hired from inside the country.
“The project, the biggest-ever in the history of the country starting from Karachi and culminating at Peshawar, would not only decrease unemployment but also boost the national economy,” he added.
He said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved the upgradation of the existing ML-1, 1780 kilometres and after completion, the train would run on the upgraded track at 160 kilometres per hour.
Rashid said that the railway tracks were built in 1861 and due to their dilapidated condition the number of accidents increased but now the track was going to be upgraded to help mitigate mishaps.
“The ML-1 credit goes to the PTI government and after its completion the number of passenger trains will also be increased from 34 to 140," he added. (With input from APP)
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