20 new freight trains to be operated: Rashid

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Saturday said 20 new freight trains would be operated during the current year to increase the revenue of the Pakistan Railways.

Addressing a press conference briefing here, he said the second freight train from Karachi was inaugurated on Friday which would run on daily basis.

Sheik Rashid said he had asked the railway officials to improve the service standard and cleanliness condition in trains to attract more passengers.

He said the work was underway to run two VIP trains from Karachi by the end of next month. The name of one train had been finalized as Jinnah Express while that of the second one still under consideration, he added.

He said the Railways would play an important role in promoting tourism in the country.

The minister said the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) would be revived soon to facilitate the people of the metropolis.

Sheikh Rashid said with an effective economic strategy and support of friendly countries, the present government had successfully managed to improve the economy.

He said the people had voted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its anti-corruption agenda and now it was the responsibility of its government to clean all the state institutions and departments from the menace.

Talking about the Kashmir issue, Sheikh Rashid said India was targeting innocent Kashmiris with brutal force and denying them the right to self determination as per the United Nations resolutions.

Criticising the Sahiwal incident, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan would ensure legal action against the responsible for the crime.