Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Saturday taunted the opposition parties and asked where was the opposition All Parties Conference (APC).

Addressing a press conference at Railways Headquarters in Lahore, Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan Railways was not able to operate trains in the country and the opposition wants to run a movement. “There is no future for the Sharif family and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not coming back to the country,” he said categorically.

Sheikh Rashid while talking about the Main Line-I (ML-I) project said the ML-1 would provide employment opportunities to over 200,000 people as 90 percent labour and technical staff would be hired from inside the county.

While defending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he said, “No PTI minister is doing corruption.”

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He said the ML-1 project starting from Karachi and culminating at Peshawar would not only decrease unemployment in the country but would also boost the country’s economy.

“I am trying to invite the Chinese President to the opening ceremony for the ML-1 project,” Sheikh Rashid said and added, the first ML-1 tender will be held before August 30.

He said ML-1 project was signed on February 6, 2007 and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the upgradation of the existing ML-1, 1780 kilometres and after completion, the train would run on the upgraded track at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. “ML-1 credit goes to the Army Chief and Imran Khan,” he maintained.

The minister announced that 10 up and down trains are going to reopen including Rehman Baba, Badar Express, Farid Express, Hazara Express and Mohenjodaro Express.

Earlier in the day, a meeting was held at Railway Headquarters under the chair Sheikh Rashid which decided not to resume full train operation instead it was decided to run a limited train operation. 

The TV channel quoting its sources reported that despite the permission of the federal government, the railway officials agreed to run only five trains. 

The sources maintained that Pakistan Railways is considering running Farid Express, Badar Express, Mohenjodaro Express and Hazara Express.