MIRPURKHAS, Dec 10: Fede-ral Minister for Railways Shamim Haider has appreciated efforts of railway workers and officials for accomplishing the task of conversion of meter gauge track into broad gauge on a 143 kilometeres Khokhropar-Mirpurkhas section.

He was talking to newsmen here on Friday after visiting the Zero Point and the Khokhropar railway station and other spots where work was going on in full swing.

The minisater along with other PR officials left for the Khokhropar railway station by road.

Answering questions of newsmen, the minister said that a delegation from Pakistan would visit India on Dec 15 for negotiations for opening the border to be followed by a visit by an Indian delegation on Dec 22 for further negotiations.

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would be requested to inaugurate the new rail track.

He said that trains would be operated on trial basis on the Mirpurkhas-Khokhropar track till Jan 8, 2006. He said that it was a big challenge for the railway that had been achieved successfully as the entire world was watching the development.

Answering a question, he said that local people would be preferred in recruitment on the basis of merit.

He said that railways had sought Rs1 billion from the government for completion of the project which is expected to cost an amount of Rs1.5 billion.

He said that project’s work is of international standard and a new railway station was being constructed at the Zero Point.

He said that a train would cover Karachi-Khokhropar distance in seven hours with the Mirpurkhas railway station becoming main junction during the journey.

He brushed aside rumours that the border would not be opened and said that preparations were afoot by immigration, visa, passport and FIA officials to set up their counters there.

He said that he had directed officers to accomplish their targets keeping in view the international standards.

Federal secretary and Pakistan Railways Chairman Shakeel Durrani and other railway officials were present on the occasion.