June 08, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1427

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MIRPURKHAS, June 7: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Wednesday criticised people opposing reopening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao border.

He rejected reports that people coming from India were returning to their homes in Sindh and said the visitors went back to India after completing their stay here.

He was speaking at the launching ceremony of the Marvi train at the Mirpurkhas railway station.

Federal Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad and Sindh Minister for Works and Services Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi were also present.

The chief minister said opening of the route had facilitated people as they could now visit their relatives conveniently.

He said the Marvi train would ply between Mirpurkhas and Khokhropar and make stopovers at each railway station.

About development works, he said the Tando Adam-Mirpurkhas road and the Sanghar-Mirpurkhas road would soon be constructed. He said roads from Mirwah to Kot Ghulam Mohammad and Digri to Naukot were also being constructed.

He hoped that an electric train would soon be operated in Karachi and other trains would be provided with air-conditioned coaches.

About the country’s economy, he said the economy had improved and people were investing capital here, instead of depositing money in foreign banks.

He announced construction of an overhead bridge in Mirpurkhas from funds of provincial and federal governments.

He asked Federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad to set up an immigration counter at the Khokhropar railway station, instead of Zero Point, to facilitate passengers.

Later, speaking at the Pithoro railway station where he along with others arrived by the Marvi train, the chief minister claimed that 72 per cent gas and 60 per cent petrol were discovered in Sindh.

The railways minister directed the department to start rehabilitation work of the Mirpurkhas-Nawabshah track.

He said he was looking into complaints of late arrival of trains and added that there was a shortage of locomotives but the problem would be solved.

He said purified water would be provided at 640 railway stations of the country.

Meanwhile, speaking at a ceremony organised to lay the foundation stone of a building for the Taluka Municipal Administration at 12 Miles in Mori near Sindhri, the chief minister said a network of roads was being laid in Sindh, which would cost Rs4 billion.

He said Rs50 million had been provided for development works in the Sindhri taluka.

He said a road on the pattern of the Super Highway would be constructed between Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah and a road would also be constructed along the railway track between Mirpurkhas to Chhore.

He said remodelling and rehabilitation work of the Mithrao Canal would be completed by December.

Dr Rahim also announced establishment of an intermediate college and a water supply scheme for Sindhri.