RAWALPINDI, Jan 10: The federal minister for railways, Ghous Bakhash Maher, on Friday said the government was interested in turning the railways into a corporation by June, 2003.

The minister stated this while listening to the complaints of people in an open kutchery at Lal Haveli. The federal minister for information and media development, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was also present on the occasion.

The railways minister said people would soon be appointed against the vacant posts in different departments of railways on merit. However, those who have been dismissed from their services will not be reinstated, he added.

He said ownership rights would be given to dwellers living in slum areas near railway tracks. People can apply for this by filling forms, which are available at DCO offices by end of March, he added.