ISLAMABAD – The federal minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed hastaken a number of steps for the uplift of Pakistan Railways.

Two committees have been formed to maximise the performance of PakistanRailways.

Railways project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bere-evaluated by an evaluation committee of the department.

The CPEC Evaluation Committee would revalue the cost of Main-Line Oneproject falling under the CPEC and look for any fraudulent activity by theprevious minister. The Investment Committee would supervise the investmentmatters in the ministry.

Rashid said for ML-1 the ministry would like to re-evaluate the scope andactual position of this line with the help of allied agencies which mayinclude National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak).

The step has been taken in order to minimise the chances of corruptionunder the zero-corruption agenda of the prime minister, he said. “Railwaysis actually the backbone of CPEC,” he said.

Rashid said Gwadar had been declared as the eighth division of railways andthe ministry would give extra benefits to those officials who “are willingto work for the development of railways in Gwadar” and connecting the citywith Jacobabad.

He also announced that 700km Quetta-Taftan railway line would soon becompleted to improve ties with neighbouring Iran. He also said that hewould discourage single bidding in upcoming projects of railways andencourage open competition in awarding tender.

He showed his willingness to work with National Logistics Cell and FrontierWorks Organisation, saying that by working with these agencies the moneywill remain in the national kitty.

“I am committed to bring railways out of deficit within one year, for whichwe are focusing on our freight sector.We are signing agreements with many companies to use railwaysinfrastructure and soon we will start a world-class courier and freightservice too,” Rashid added.

The Pakistan Railways is scheduled to inaugurate two passenger trains –Margalla and Mianwali express – on September 14, which would run betweenLahore-Rawalpindi and Rawaplindi- Mianwali junctions simultaneously. “Wewill run two more passenger trains in coming months,” said Rashid.