ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says the biggest challenge for our government is to make Pakistan a welfare society to elevate the weaker segments of society.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Azakhel Dry Port in Nowshera on Friday, he said as railways is a mode of transportation of common people and its improvement will help them commute.
The Prime Minister said Ehsaas program started by the incumbent government at a cost of 190 billion rupees is a major step towards helping the downtrodden of the country. He said under the banner of Ehsaas, scholarships for undergraduate students, shelter homes and other schemes have been started as part of the commitment of the government to support the people who are less fortunate. He said Health Insaaf Cards introduced by the PTI government will ensure public health facility without any financial burden on families.
Imran Khan said under Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme five million houses are being constructed for people of middle and lower-income backgrounds. He said 40 industries are allied with the construction sector and a lot of job opportunities will be created for youth. He said a package has been also given to Utility Stores Corporation in order to reduce the burden of inflation on working and middle class. He said this year policies will be made to give jobs to our youth and will help the poor people through Ehsaas program.
The Prime Minister said Azakhel Dry Port will help increase trade that would lead to job creation and benefitting the local populace. He said the project was envisaged in 2006 but could not be completed during the tenure of previous governments. He said people of Nowshera are politically aware and that is why they always select PTI to help resolve their issues.
Prime Minister regretted that money was not spent on the development of railways in the seventy-year history of this country. He said the railway line decreased in length from the one inherited from British colonial rule. The main reason was corruption and nepotism rampant in previous governments. He said a different set of rules existed in old Pakistan with respect to rich and poor classes.
Imran Khan said rail is the medium of travel of common man in the whole world. Whereas in Pakistan the railways infrastructure is in dilapidated condition due to non-investment. He said ML-1 under China Pakistan Economic Corridor will bring revolutionary changes in railways sector of the country. He said China leads the world in railways technology and we will benefit from their experience. He said after the completion of ML-1, the commute time from Peshawar to Karachi will take only 8 hours.
The Prime Minister said revenue generated by railways in one year has exceeded by five billion rupees. He said railways have now to compete with the private sector. He said State Owned Enterprises are incurring a loss of five hundred billion rupees annually and creating burden on tax payers’ money. The Prime Minister said performance of both railways and PIA would be improved to make them more competitive. He said the lands of railways retrieved from land grabbers will be sold to earn precious revenue.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment for zero tolerance against corruption. He also urged the railways staff to give their full dedication and sincerity to run their organization.
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