PM directs upgrading ML-1 project

Shehbaz terms budget youth-oriented

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed upgrading the Main Line (ML-1) of Pakistan Railways on a priority basis and said revival of railways was top priority of the government.

The prime minister said that ML-1 was the backbone of Pakistan Railways and in the future, Pakistan would provide trade corridor facilities to the regional countries through its railways and sea-ports systems.

The prime minister chaired a meeting to review reforms in Pakistan Railways and upgradation of ML-1. The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and other relevant officials, PM office Media Wing said in a press release.

The meeting was apprised of the ongoing reforms and digitalisation of railways. In the aftermath of last year's devastating floods, Pakistan Railways revived its operations on an emergency basis whereas digitalization work was underway.

Moreover, the ticketing system was completely digitalised, the meeting was informed. The meeting was further apprised of the upgradation project of ML-1 and particularly its various options and processes.

Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government had presented a historical budget 2023-24 specifically designed for youth to help start their entrepreneurship activities that would also create more jobs in the country.

He said that the confidence and the hope could be restored by eliminating disappointments and ensuring socio-economic development of the country.

“By the will of Allah Almighty, the upcoming year will be the year of increased income generation of the people and the country,” he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister Office.

This was the budget of economic stability and quick development in various sectors including industry, agriculture, information technology and energy, he said adding that the budget would also provide youth the opportunity to create jobs for others by starting their own entrepreneurship.

“Youth are the country’s future and saving their future has always been my top priority,” he added.

The prime minister said with the help of initiatives announced by the government in the budget 2023-24, the youth would become the architects of Pakistan’s development by starting their own businesses in IT, industry and agriculture sectors.

He said the government was providing 100,000 laptops and small loans to the youth on concessional rates for their startups.

The government, he said had also offered tax exemptions in the Budget 2023-24 for businesses in IT for encouragement of the youth.

The prime minister said the Rs 2000 billion Kissan Package would further expedite the country’s journey of agriculture development and prosperity.

He said the government would offer more facilities in the agriculture sector through the budget 2023-24 to ensure food security and to make the youth an important stakeholder in agriculture development of the country.

He said the farmers and the youth of the country would become prosperous by availing the agriculture and business loans offered by the government in the budget 2023-24.