PM inaugurates Lahore-Karachi Jinnah Express

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated Lahore-Karachi train Jinnah Express on Saturday, pledging to improve and revamp the country’s creaking railways network with the help of China.

“Since rail transport is an economical source of travelling for the public, it needs to be promoted as well as modernised. We will seek help from China that has introduced state-of-the-art rail network in the world,” he said at the inaugural ceremony.

PM Khan announced his plans to travel to China next month “to request them to help us in upgrading our railways”.

Speaking on tourism, PM Khan’s preferred subject these days especially after recently announcing his PTI-led government’s ambitious new tourism policy, he said he would undertake wide-ranging efforts to promote trains for local and international tourists. “Pakistan is the most beautiful country in the world with several attractions for tourists. I assure you we will promote tourism and Pakistan Railways unlike the previous rulers.”

Plans to visit China next month to seek their expertise in revamping railways

He was also of the view that travelling by trains will substantially reduce traffic congestion on the country’s overburdened road network since “a large number of people prefer travelling via this mode of transportation”.

“So we must make railways our top priority, enabling more and more people to use this mode instead of travelling on roads.”

He also mentioned salaries of railway workers in his speech saying he was convinced they need to be raised, “but before making any promises, I would need to first consult the finance ministry about the availability of funds. If they have funds, we will raise salaries”, he said.

Health cards, too, were needed for railway workers but again it was linked to the availability of funds, he said.

The PM also promised to direct the petroleum minister to use trains to transport oil instead of tankers. “I would discourage the oil tankers ‘mafia’ by ordering the minister to use railways for oil transportation.”

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the rail administration was working hard to make railways cost-effective and the best travelling mode for the public.

Jinnah Express during its journey would reportedly stop at three railway stations — Khanewal, Rohri and Hyderabad.

The capacity of Jinnah Express is approximately 650 passengers with single fare for each passenger fixed at Rs6,500.

Catering facilities and sleeping berths will also be offered to the travellers of Jinnah Express that will complete its journey in 16 hours.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2019

from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/2CLDdCt
via IFTTT

Sialkot police bust gang of robbers, seize over Rs20m looted cash

SIALKOT: Police on Tuesday claimed to have busted an infamous gang of robbers and seized Rs20.3 million looted cash from their possession, ARY News reported. A spokesperson for the police confirmed the arrests saying the eight-member gang had looted a pharmaceutical company’s truck full of medicine. He said the looted cash to the tune of Rs20.3 million was also recovered from their possession. The police said the recovered cash and truck have been handed over to their owner. Read More: Youngster battles for life as Punjab police ‘mistakenly’ opens fire on him Earlier, on June 20, Karachi police had apprehended six robbers allegedly involved in a bank robbery of Rs10.5 million last month. The robbers had produced Rs9 million from the bank robbery in front of the police after being taken under arrest. The police also recovered the weapons used by the criminals in the bank robbery. The gang was stated to have a previous record of robbing various places in the city, the police said. ...

Peshawar security forces kill four suspected terrorists

The Peshawar Counter-Terrorism Department personnel gunned down four suspected terrorists after raiding their hideout on the Kohat Road Monday. According to the security forces, the suspects were plotting an attack. A cache of weapons and ammunition has been seized too. On Monday evening, a special CTD team raided the hideout after surrounding it and exchanged fire with them. No CTD personnel was injured in the operation. from SAMAA https://ift.tt/2V8MRbn

Headlines 9am: Karachi to face power outages, coronavirus cases rise

Here are the headlines from SAMAA TV’s 9am bulletin. Pakistan has begun reporting fewer coronavirus infections in the last couple of days. In the last 24 hours, 3,964 cases were reported with 105 deaths. Around 73,000 recoveries have been confirmed so far. Three people were killed in a collision between a motorcycle and ambulance on the Mehran highway. A child was injured as well. Robbers looted a house in Karachi’s Azizabad in broad daylight and in the presence of a policeman. The cop chased the thieves but they were able to escape. SAMAA TV has acquired a CCTV footage of the robbery. A terrorism bid has been foiled in Peshawar. During a raid, security forces eliminated four terrorists. A cache of weapons and ammunition has been recovered. Saudi Arabia has announced it would hold a “very limited” Hajj this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with pilgrims already in the kingdom allowed to take part. The Kingdom has informed Pakistan about it as well. Pakistan’s Religious A...

Latest News

Search This Blog