March 28, 2024
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ML-1 to create jobs, bring economic activities in Pakistan: PM

Imran Khan said that railway had got an important place in his vision of Naya Pakistan because a common man uses it as a means of transport.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that the Main Line-1 railway project would not only create job opportunities but also bring massive economic activity in the country.

He said that it was for the first time that Pakistan was going for massive uplift in the railway sector in the form of ML-1 project.

H said this when he was attending the up-gradation ceremony of Hassan Abdal railway station that was first constructed by the British rulers some 127 year ago.

He also said that railway had got an important place in his vision of Naya Pakistan because a common man uses it as a means of transport.

He added that the rail infrastructure that Pakistan got at the time of partition should have been expanded but it was cut down unfortunately.

He also said that the cost of ML-1 was seriously negotiated with China and it was decided between Pakistan and China to complete the project in $6 billion instead of $9 billion.

He told the audience that after the completion of ML-1 project it would take only seven hours to travel from Karachi to Lahore.

ML-1would give railways a modern touch in Pakistan besides creating jobs, he said adding that all this would ultimately give a boost to the economy.

He said that all he wanted was to make Pakistan self-sufficient with better economic activity.

H further said that Naya Pakistan gives equal rights to all its citizens irrespective of their religions.

He said that Hassan Abdal railway station was located near Gurdwara Punja Sahib and its up-gradation would ease the travelling of Sikh pilgrims.

Imran Khan also said that Pakistan had great potential to become a key tourist attraction for Hindus and Buddhists from across the world.

He quoted famous international magazine Conde Nast Traveller as writing that Pakistan was the top tourist destination in future.

He said that the government was also seriously working on introducing relaxations in the visa system for the development of tourism in Pakistan.

Imran Khan appreciated Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid for his dedication towards improving railway system in the country.

On the occasion, Sheikh Rahseed said that the ML-1 project would engage 90 percent of local human resource and 10 percent from China.

He thanked the prime minister for paying attention over the development of railways to ease up the common man.

He also said that Pakistan Railways was bent upon resolving the issues of its employees, especially about their pension.

He also announced that it was also under consideration to increase the allowances of train drivers.