MIANWALI: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced on Wednesday that the old Rawalpindi-Mianwali track will be replaced with a new one that will reduce the travel time between the two stations to three hours.

He announced this during his speech at Mianwali Railway Station where a large number of people had gathered to welcome him. Mr Rashid was traveling by inaugural service of Thal Express that was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan a day earlier. The train will run between Multan and Rawalpindi via Mianwali.

He said that Pakistan would be made a prosperous country according to the prime minister’s vision.

He was accompanied with Amjad Ali Khan, the MNA from Mianwali.

The minister vowed to make Pakistan Railways an ideal institution.

He also announced that the services of contract-based temporary labourers would be regularised and problems of civil servants would be resolved on priority basis.

He announced Rs3000 allowance for each railway worker, advising them to work hard for the success of the PR.

Mr Rashid also addressed gatherings at Daudkhel Railway Stations and Kundian loco shed.

However, most of the locals got disappointed when in his speeches he did not even mention their longstanding demand of restoration of early morning rail-car service between Kundian and Rawalpindi which had been replaced with Thal Express.

They were of the view that Thal Express’ timings did not suit those intending to travel to Rawalpindi by train.

Local traders representative Haji Falak Sher said the minister, by not even mentioning the demand, cheated the people of Mianwali.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2019