Railways to issue int’l tender in three months: Rashid

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways would issue international tender of Royal Palm Golf and Country Club within the next three months and the loss making-entity would be out of deficit in five years.

This was stated by jubilant Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday in a video message issued soon after the Supreme Court delivered verdict in favor of Pakistan Railways in the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club case.

The minister said that spreading over 150 acres of precious land valuing billions of rupees, the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club has three cinema houses, marquees and leading Golf Club of the country, and had been occupied by a mafia since the year 2001. He added that the Supreme Court has ordered handing over of the occupied land to the Pakistan Railways.

Paying tributes to the Supreme Court for handing over land to the Pakistan Railways, he said the every encroached inch of Pakistan Railways land would be recovered from mafias. The deficit of Pakistan Railways would be brought to nil in five years, he claimed.

He said that the report of Pakistan Railways would be presented at Rawalpindi Railways Station on July 2, while another new train Sir Syed would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on July 3. He said that the Pakistan Railways was badly looted by the former rulers. Unnecessary machines worth billions of rupees were purchased and wasted.

Showing his happiness over the Supreme Court’s judgment, Rashid reached the Parliament House with sweets to meet the Prime Minister. The minister briefed the Prime Minister about the apex court’s verdict and renewed the pledge to steer the railways out of deficit within five years as the decision will help the Pakistan Railways reduce its deficit. On the occasion, the Prime Minister asked him who will run the Royal Pam Club then. Sheikh replied that tender will be issued meeting international requirements and it will be handed over to an international level company.