My iftar dinner drew 4-times more people than Nawaz rally, says Rasheed

LAHORE (92 News) – Commenting on the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) rally to give former premier Nawaz Sharif a warm send-off upon his return to Kot Lakhpat Jail, Minister for Railways Shiekh Rasheed said his iftar dinner drew five times more people than those who attended the rally. Addressing a press conference, the minister dismissed reports that the government is going to privatise the railway. “The railway is not being privatised. Those talking about it are talking nonsense,” he clarified. The minister said there has been no increase in the railway’s expenses since he took the reins of the ministry and added scrap worth Rs1 billion was sold in one year. Shaikh Rasheed said efforts are being made to implement the apex court’s decision regarding removal of encroachments on the Karachi Circular Railway track within 15 days. He said the KCR can be revived through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor funding.

‘Gang of Four’ looted Pakistan

Taking jibe at the opposition parties, Sheikh Rasheed said that the ‘Gang of Four’ have looted the national money of the country. He said that Sharif family only wanted to go London, however, one of them fled and other stuck in the jail. The minister ignored to comment on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, saying, “I will not talk about Bilawal Bhutto during his fast.” About the ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said an agreement would be reached with the Fund in a day or two. The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has convened a meeting on Monday evening to discuss a tax amnesty scheme and hopped that former finance minister Asad Umar would soon be part of the federal cabinet. He expressed the hope that the railway would become the fastest growing institution. “The country will make progress through the railway,” he said. The minister announced Rs3,000 as Eidi for each labourer of the department. “As a result of the steps taken by the present government, the revenue of passenger trains witnessed an increase of Rs four billion as compared to the last year,” he said. Sheikh Rasheed said that efforts were also being made to increase the number of freight trains. “An agreement has been signed with Pakistan Air Force for supply of oil,” he added.