Saad Rafique announces 30pc reduction in train fares

ISLAMABAD: Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday announced a 30 per cent reduction in train fares on the occasion of Eidul-Fitr, ARY News reported.

The minister made the announcement while addressing a press conference here at Railway Headquarters in Lahore.

“Railways will reduce fares by 30 per cent during Eid days and from now on employees of Pakistan Railways will get salaries on time,” he said, adding that pensioners of Pak Railways would be paid on time as well.

Rafique vowed to put Pakistan Railway on track soon.

He went on to say that the former government failed to execute the mega ML-1 railway up-gradation project under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“The ML-1 project was supposed to be completed in six years but has exceeded to nine years due to incompetence of former PTI government,” said Rafique. He announced that the new coalition government will rework the project as PTI failed to initiate work on ML-1.

Rafique vowed to put Pakistan Railway on track soon.

Khawaja Saad Rafique, who has previously served as Railways minister, was sworn into Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet on April 19 and was given the charge of the railways and aviation.

After assuming office, Railways Minister Saad Rafique on Wednesday announced to restore Thal Express between Multan and Rawalpindi after a hiatus of over two years.

عوام کی سہولت کے پیش نظر ملتان ۔ راولپنڈی ۔ملتان براستہ کندیاں، اٹک سٹی گولٹرہ شریف کے درمیان چلنے والی تھل ایکسپریس کو 21 اپریل 2022 سے بحال کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔

یہ ٹرین ایک اے سی سٹینڈرڈ، سات اکانومی کلاس کوچز ، ایک بریک وین اور ایک پاور پلانٹ پر مشتمل ہوگی۔

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— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) April 20, 2022

“It has been decided to restore the Thal Express (129-Up/130-Dn) running between Multan – Rawalpindi – Multan via Attock with effect from 21-04-2023,” the minister announced in a tweet.