Federal Minister for Railways and senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Tuesday proposed that Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan should form a confederation such as European Union to eradicate terrorism, poverty, unemployment and restlessness from the region. It will also help promote business, peace, tranquility and brotherhood in the region, he added.
He was talking to newsmen after chairing second meeting of the Board of Directors here at the PR Headquarters’ committee room. Bilour an ardent follower of late Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Abdul Wali Khan said that Pakistan had been subjected to all sorts of terrorism, militancy, extremism and sectarianism during past three decades.
He said our leaders had been stressing the need for peaceful co-existence and good neighbourly relations among Pakistan, India and Afghanistan for peace and prosperity in these countries. But the media and some powerful segments of the society were not ready to digest such a proposal.
Bilour said “Since the Amman Ki Asha is in the air all-around, therefore he had the courage to propose confederation of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan for making concerted effort to eradicate poverty, unemployment, terrorism and extremism in the region.” I know many people would not like my proposal and raise hue and cry, yet I am making this proposal in the greater good of the people, he added.
With regard to the decisions of the BOD to solve problems of Pakistan Railways, he said the meeting could not find sustainable and permanent solutions to the enormous financial, administrative and operational handicaps of the Railways. He said the tender for 150 Locomotives would be opened on June 4, 2012 but it would take approximately two years for the completion of the whole process. Had this process been completed in 2007, the situation would have been different today, he added. .
He further said that Pakistan Railway deficit was increasing rapidly day by day but government is unwilling to provide financial support to the organisation. Acute shortage of locomotives is the great hurdle in the way of progress of railway, without getting 400 locomotives, Pakistan railway could not survive properly he added. In January2010, Railway administration demanded five billion rupees for the rehabilitation of the Locomotives but railway ministry could not get even a single penny despite the fact that cabinet gave approval for the said amount. Shaukat Tareen finance minister of that time created hurdles for release of Rs. Five billion and directed the railway ministry to arrange loan from the commercial banks which was not arranged
Later on, Railway ministry demanded Rs, eleven billion but unfortunately it could not get a single penny as usual till to date he pointed out. Now, planning and Development division has approved seven projects sent by Ministry of Railways which would be helpful for subsidising Railways’ difficulties. .
When asked about the details of the seven approved projects he said that Pakistan Railway would purchase 40 power vans, 500 new wagons and 27 Locomotives would be reconditioned. Twelve Kilometer long new track would also be laid from Chamman to Spind Buldik
In response to another question, he supported ruling and decision of speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has not been disqualified due to conviction by the Supreme Court. He said the decision is according to the will and whishes of the people of Pakistan
When asked, he said that “Business Express Train Default Case” had been referred to the Economic Co ordination Committee (ECC), he said "Now the ball is in the court of ECC and they will take a final decision on this matter. " he added. It may be mention here that first public private partnership operated train Business Express Train is a defaulter of Rs 140million to Pakistan Railway.
***Copyright Business Recorder, 2012Bilour proposes confederation of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan | Business Recorder
***This guy is not in his senses ?
By the way, why leave Sri Lanka and Nepal out, what have they done.
