QUETTA: Federal Secretary for Railways Farrukh Habib has blasted the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for turning the once profitable department into a sinking ship.

“We have moved against people who have been looting public money and they can no longer hide from being held accountable,” the secretary said while speaking to media personnel at the Divisional Superintendent Office in Quetta.

“The least developed province, Balochistan, was blatantly ignored by the previous government. The people have continued to suffer from the neglect,” he said.

Mr Habib said the department had decided to introduce a digital system across the country.

“The incumbent federal government has a bold vision for people in Balochistan, and the journey of Naya Pakistan will start from Balochistan,” he said.

Sharing details of the Sibi-Harnai Railway track he said, 90 per cent of construction of the track has been completed and the train service will be restored in the coming days.

Mr Habib alleged that the railway minister of the previous PML-N government wasted millions of rupees over constructions of Narowal and Raiwind stations. The secretary claimed that the former minister wanted to keep his leader happy who was living like a king in a poverty stricken country. “Today they are complaining against accountability, but they would do well to remember that no one who has looted public money will be spared.”

The Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways in Quetta division, Wasif Ali Mughal, and provincial Minister for Forest Mir Zia Langove were present with the secretary when he made these comments.

Mr Habib said that the agriculture sector and the railways were both important subjects and they were discussed in China during the prime minister’s visit. The secretary claimed that there was an overwhelmingly positive response from several Chinese companies that wished to invest in the railways in Pakistan.

He said issues of the railways administration were being addressed by digitalising its functions.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2018