ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said that nepotism and corruption had marred the government institutions and the incumbent government was pursuing policies of merit and transparency in the recruitment process.
Addressing a launching ceremony of four new trains here at PM Office, the prime minister said it was the people who bore the brunt of corruption and political appointments.
The Prime Minister unveiled the plaque to launch Sindh Express (Karachi to Sukkur), Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Express (Karachi to Mirpur Khas), an extension of Faisalabad Express from Lahore to Multan and Rehman Baba Express (Peshawar to Karachi).
The ceremony marked the achievement of the Ministry of Railways target to launch 10 new trains within the first 100 days of the government by using the local resources and manpower. The ceremony was also attended by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, Advisor on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and Specials Assistants to PM Iftikhar Durrani and Naeemul Haq.
The Prime Minister lauded the Railway Ministry for increasing the revenue by Rs 1.5 billion during three months. He said the uplift of railways was vital for being the transport of the poor. Countries like China excelled because they had invested in the welfare of the poor and that was also the concept of State of Madinah, he added.
The Prime Minister said China had made history by steering 700 million people out of poverty within just three decades and Pakistan would soon emerge as world’s biggest economic powers. He said all of the policies of the incumbent government revolved around the welfare of the common man. He said, unfortunately, no previous government ever focused on the expansion of railway track since the inception of Pakistan and it was for the first time that the government was bringing investment for railways.
The Prime Minister told the gathering that after completion of ML-1 project, the travel duration from Lahore to Karachi would reduce to eight hours. He said the government had maintained the confidentiality of bilateral agreements with China however the enemies perceived the magnitude of the cooperation and attempted to sabotage it through an abortive terrorist attack at Chinese Consulate in Karachi.
He paid homage to the security forces which thwarted the attack and blocked entry of terrorists inside the building.