People Want Peace, We Will Not Allow Any Ideology to Be Imposed by Force of Arms: Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti

Quetta – Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, while announcing free travel facilities for senior citizens and special persons on the occasion of the inauguration of the first Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service in Quetta, has said that the metro train service will be expanded to two trains in the future, while steps will also be taken to extend the service to Pishin, Bostan, and Mastung.

Chief Minister Balochistan, along with Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, officially inaugurated the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service here on Tuesday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister Balochistan and the Federal Minister for Railways unveiled the plaque of the project and also participated in the first trial run of the metro train. The ceremony was also attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri, provincial ministers, members of the assembly, Chairman Pakistan Railways, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, senior officials, and representatives of political parties.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti welcomed Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on his arrival in Balochistan and praised his spirit of public service. He said that the participation of representatives belonging to different political parties in this event in Balochistan reflects that this is a joint and public welfare project for the people of Balochistan.

The Chief Minister said that the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service is the first metro train service of its kind in Balochistan, aimed at providing citizens with safe, comfortable, and low-cost travel facilities. The common man, laborers, students, and professionals will benefit the most from this project.

He said that initially there was a proposal to import engines and coaches from China for the project, which would have cost 50 to 60 billion rupees and required three to four years for completion. However, on the proposal of the Federal Minister for Railways, it was decided to have new engines and coaches manufactured by Pakistan Railways itself, which not only saved time and resources but also benefited from the capability of a domestic institution.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that the Balochistan government is committed to expanding this service to two trains so that trains can be operated from both sides by next year. He stated that work on developing the railway track up to Bostan Industrial Estate has already begun, while in the future, there is also a plan under consideration to extend the metro train service from Pishin and Bostan to Mastung.

The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Frontier Corps Balochistan, and other relevant institutions for their cooperation in completing the project. He said that with the cooperation of relevant institutions in the security plan and completion of the railway track, this project reached completion. He said that during August, the project faced minor delays due to certain obstacles; however, these difficulties were overcome.

The Chief Minister said that the development and convenience of the people of Balochistan are among the government’s priorities, and practical steps will continue to provide better facilities to the common man of the province.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service is a positive development for the people of Balochistan, the credit for which goes to the people of Balochistan, the bureaucracy, parliamentary representatives, the provincial cabinet, Pakistan Railways, and the cooperation of all political parties.

Chief Minister Balochistan announced that travel on the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service will be completely free for senior citizens and special persons, while fares for other citizens are also discounted and subsidized according to the common man’s affordability.

Chief Minister Balochistan also praised the efforts of Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan for accelerating the implementation and progress of the project.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that the people of Balochistan want peace, development, and prosperity. He said that our doors are always open for negotiations; however, the use of force against the state and the imposition of any ideology through the gun cannot be allowed.