Pakistan

PM praises Saad Rafique at Green Line train inauguration

Prime minister says Green Line train bathrooms are better than PIA's

Web Desk May 15, 2015

PHOTOS: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday heaped praise at railways minister Saad Rafique while inaugurating the Green Line train in Islamabad.

After the inauguration, the premier addressed various dignitaries, the media and took the opportunity to honour Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.

“I was right to choose Khawaja Saad Rafique to become the railways minister,” he said.

Read: Stay online on the Green Line from Karachi to Islamabad

“In just two years, Pakistan Railways has progressed. Saad Rafique is a good team leader,” he said.

The prime minister's remarks come hours after the Election Commission of Pakistan issued a notification recalling its earlier notification that annulled Saad Rafique’s membership in the National Assembly from NA-125.

Rafique’s victory from NA-125 was termed invalid by an election tribunal on May 4 after the panel found irregularities in the records of election material for the constituency. A re-poll was also ordered within 60 days of the verdict announcement.

Read: ECP restores Khawaja Saad Rafique National Assembly membership

The premier said that various institutions of the state and their performance reflect the performance of the government.

“Restoration of the railways was a major challenge,” he said.

Nawaz said that the Green Line would transport passengers from Karachi to Islamabad and vice versa with the fare of Rs 5,500.

Furthermore, he elaborated that the route will include other destinations such as Rohri, Bahawalpur and Lahore and the train is equipped with “advance facilities” such as Wi-Fi and the total journey would take 23 hours.

Read: Development agenda: Lahore metro train gets green signal

“Passengers will also be provided with Rs 1 million travel insurance,” Nawaz said.

The premier also stressed that the bathrooms of the train are better than the ones in Pakistan International Airlines.

COMMENTS (15)

M Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply PM praised toilets of green line train because he fear its going to be jangla line

Aik_Paki | 8 years ago | Reply @Neutral but happy: Most of the so called neutrals are liar N-leagures. I hope you are not one of them.

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salman | 8 years ago | Reply Just saw on news that passengers complaining of no food, no water, no electricty/ac, no WiFi and no newspapers...and no one praised the bathrooms. Epic fail. But I guess sad rafiq will now say these were PTI passengers! Lol

Ranjha | 8 years ago | Reply @Asad: Let’s appreciate the good work where it is due If you give a monkey a razor, it does not make him a barber, not matter how hard the monkey tries! These pathetic "ministers" can't even run a purchoon shop, let alone the railway system of the world's 6th largest nation. No amount of appreciation or understanding or leniency or darbarism is going to make an iota of change! Only competent people can make a difference.

Arsie | 8 years ago | Reply @saigon: You nailed it mate!

The Khan-Waterloo,Ontario | 8 years ago | Reply I shudder at the thought of IK ever coming to power. Well done Nawaz

saigon | 8 years ago | Reply Above comments prove that people can be so negative. . One guy has problem with ONE engine having issues! Another one has problem with lhr, islamabad, khi project (when it is not Lahore only project). Another one has problem because Railway can be used by some criminals! One guy have problem with subsidy (when all over the world the public transport is subsidised) . How can one make such nation happy? Obviously by doing nothing!!!

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply Let's appreciate the good work where it is due. Pakistan Railways is definitely not performing well. At least this guy and his team of civil servants is trying to improve. Let's encourage it by keeping political liking apart.

zahid ullah | 8 years ago | Reply Why to spend time in such useless things do something really needed than appreciating each other

Neutral but happy | 8 years ago | Reply I am neither supporter nor voter of PML(N) but Gr8 stuff from this government to revive Railway and all credit must go KSR. he should be the role model for other ministers. NS haters: please give the credit where due. i am looking forward to use this train as the cheapest and comfortable option to go to ISB with my family.

disgusted | 8 years ago | Reply It is this railway where smuggling of weapons drugs and stolen items is rampant. Watch Sar e Aam where railway employees admitted on camera about all this and for which ARY team was put in jail. It was then that SC should have taken away his NA 125 seat.

Sajjad Ashraf | 8 years ago | Reply At this cost it is not a sustainable proposition. It is like the Metro Bus that is heavily subsidised and cannot survive in its present form. BAD business propositions.

WOw | 8 years ago | Reply Millions of rupees of bailouts, sub standard facilities, constant labour strikes (drivers, coolies, etc.), falling shares in the stock market and Nawaz claims; "In just two years, Pakistan Railways has progressed. Saad Rafique is a good team leader,” Such irony.

drS | 8 years ago | Reply plz focus on other routes as well rather than putting all investment in isb lhr khi route... introduce new trains on other routes of punjab as well

Hamdani | 8 years ago | Reply and this high performing minister was left higher when the engine of thetrain broke down and sepereated from the train. The elctric system in the train also became disfunctional.

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