12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

SUKKUR, Feb 11: Railways Minister Ghous Bux Mahar has said that speed of trains will be enhanced from the present 105 to 125 kms per hour. Speaking at a press conference at the circuit house here on Tuesday , he said the Pakistan railways made a profit of Rs270 million last year while an overdraft of Rs500 millions of the State Bank had also been cleared.

Mr Mahar said reservation offices throughout the country were being computerized. He claimed that black marketing was rooted out from the department. He said fake tickets worth Rs700,000 had been recovered from Faisalabad and action was under way against the accused including railways employees.

He said the railway system had become obsolete and it would be modernized gradually. In the first phase track from Khanewal to Lahore was being doubled while in the other phase more routes would be doubled.

Replying to a question, he said the reservation system after computerization would be interlinked throughout the country, which would benefit passengers and every passenger could get his return ticket at the time of booking.

He said a plan was under way to commercialise the railways property throughout the country so that it could earn more in this way. He said the government was trying to provide safe, comfortable and fast railway service to its passengers.

Replying to another question, the minister said that any call for protest movement by the ARD would remain unsuccessful. He said such type of politics had no impact over the working of the government.