LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has announced to slash 10 percent fares of all classes of Shalimar Express from August 26 and a notification in this regard has also been issued.

He also claimed that restructuring of railways will be completed in four weeks as per directions issued by the honourable Supreme Court.

While addressing a press conference here at the Railways headquarters on Saturday, he said that workshops were not in working position earlier due to coronavirus pandemic. Now workshops are in the working position and the train service would be restored fully after receiving refurbished passenger coaches from the workshops. He also announced computerized online booking on freight trains in order to increase the railways income.

He said online booking of freight trains would help eradicate anomalies in this sector as digital weight system will be introduced in the freight trains.

He said "downsizing in railways in not under consideration." In response to a question, he said, "not a single employee or worker would be sacked from job rather they are working on regularization of contract employees. The CCTV system would be installed at the working places."

To another question, Sheikh Rashid said PTI government would complete its constitutional tenure, adding the opposition was not in a position to start any movement against the government. The minister criticized the opposition leaders including Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif and Maulana Fazalur Rehman and said they did not have trust in each others.

The minister also chaired a meeting of the railways administration and officers to review the accidents happened during the last year, their causes and fixation of responsibility.

PR Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani and Chief Executive Officer Dost Ali Leghari and senior officers were also present in the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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