‘Rawalpindi, ex-Fata to be linked via rail’
The Railways Division submitted the ML-I project summary to ECNEC without arranging finances from the Public Sector Development Programme, China, or any other international financial institution. Photo: AFP
The federal government has planned to connect the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to Rawalpindi as part of a rail link extending up to Uzbekistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday.
“This railway track, to be built under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, will ultimately connect Pakistan to Uzbekistan,” the K-P governor said while interacting with a delegation from tribal districts on Saturday. “This initiative will significantly benefit the entire region and enhance economic activities between Pakistan and Uzbekistan,” he added.
In a meeting with former federal minister Sajid Turi, he said the proposed plan includes expanding the railway track from Rawalpindi to Kohat and Parachinar.
Kundi expressed his resolve to promote peace, protect the rights of the province, and provide support to the youth. He affirmed his commitment to raising the issues of the province at the federal level.
Governor Kundi assured the delegations of resolving the issues pertaining to the Kohat division, including the completion of the much-delayed project of the Kohat University campus in Parachinar. He said the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would be engaged for necessary actions.
During a meeting with a PPP delegation led by Usman Tarakai, Governor Kundi reaffirmed his commitment to raising the provincial issues at the federal level for their expeditious resolution. He said he would meet the prime minister to discuss comprehensive solutions to these issues.
Kundi stressed the need for protecting provincial rights and promoting peace. He also accepted an invitation from a delegation to visit Parachinar and meet with the Swabi Action Committee at his earliest convenience.