Pakistan Railways to undertake ML-1 as a demonstration project: Azam Swati

National Assembly resumed its session at the Parliament House in Islamabad this afternoon with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.

The National Assembly was informed that Pakistan Railways is going to upgrade the Main Line-1 (ML-1) track from Peshawar to Karachi under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, enabling the train to ply at a speed up to 160 kilometres per hour.

Responding to a question, during Question Hour, Railways Minister Azam Swati told the House that the track will be fenced from both sides and level-crossings will be converted to overhead bridges or under passes to prevent accidents in order to protect human lives. He said the ministry of Railways has written to all the Chief Ministers to construct level-crossings or overhead bridges in their respective provinces as this is the responsibility of the provincial governments.

Answering another question, Azam Swati said the government will leave no stone unturned in making the Railways a profitable organization.

Replying to a question, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid said that the federal government is providing financial resources for the implementation of Sehat Sahulat Programme in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, district Tharparkar of Sindh, and merged districts of KP, while Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments are implementing the programme from their own financial resources. She said so far 10.11 million families across Pakistan are being provided hospitalization services under the programme.

Dr Nausheen Hamid said the programme has not been implemented in districts of Balochistan and Sindh due to non-contribution of annual health insurance premium by respective provincial governments.

Meanwhile, Special Technology Zones Authority Ordinance 2020 and The Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 were laid before the National Assembly.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan laid the ordinances before the House.

The House will now meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday).