ISLAMABAD - Following is the text of Bugdet Speech by Federal Minister for Finance: “I discover that the new government is inheriting a broken economy. From economic growth to prices, from revenues to expenditure, from public debt to circular debt, from monetary expansion to interest rates, from exchange rate to foreign exchange reserves and sustainability of balance of payments, I wish I could identify one single area where their economic management was in the best national interest. Indeed, there has been complete absence of management rather the economy was run on autopilot and its inherent strengths and weaknesses played out at their own without any real contribution of policy. Viewed in this perspective, the verdict of the last elections may be termed as the public accountability of the mismanagement practiced at an unprecedented level by the outgoing government.
Mr. Speaker,
I will point out four or five key indicators to allow the members to appreciate how poorly the economy has performed in the last five years:
——The growth rate has averaged less than 3% in the last five years, which is significantly below our potential;
——The inflation has averaged around 13%, which is unprecedented in the last four decades;
——The exchange rate was around Rs.62/$ and it now stands at about Rs.100/$ depreciating by a whopping 60%;
——State Bank Reserves were around $11.1 billion and they are leaving behind $6.3 billion despite having obtained significant support from IMF;
——There was virtually no circular debt of mentionable size; today, and after paying about Rs1481 billion in tariff differential subsidies, it is known to all that a gigantic circular debt of more than Rs.500 billion is crippling the power sector and fiscal system of the country.
——The average deficit in the last five years was recorded at about 7%, which is unprecedented in country’s recent history.
——The public debt stood at Rs.5,602 billion on 31st March 2008, which is now projected to rise to 14,284 billion by 30th June, 2013, implying a 2.5 times increase in country’s indebtedness. Even on the basis of Debt to GDP comparison the ratio rose from 52.6% of GDP to 63.5% representing an 4 increase of nearly 10 percentage points in country’s debt burden. I might add here that the total public debt of Pakistan which accumulated between 1947 and 30th June 1999 was around Rs.3000 billion.
——These are just a few glimpses of the economic landscape that PML (N) has inherited. I have mentioned them for the sake of setting a benchmark from where we are starting. We are dismayed by this inheritance but not discouraged or disheartened. If any thing, our resolve to put things right has only strengthened after realization of the severity of challenges we are facing.  Under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif our party is determined to turn the tide and not just restore the health of the economy but take it to new heights by enabling it to realize its full potential.
Mr. Speaker,
——The budget I have the honor to present today is not a mere balancing of revenues and expenditures of the government. It is the statement of economic policy of the PML (N) government that we will pursue during the course of our tenure. It is based on the Manifesto our party announced before it launched its election campaign. In this respect, it is the declaration of our intent to fulfill all promises that we made to the nation while seeking this broad-based mandate the nation has bestowed on Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
About reform of public sector corporations, the Finance Minister said, “We are determined to fully reform and restructure public sector corporations so that their bleeding is stopped.”
“At the outset, we have decided to appoint professional managers in all public sector corporations through a competitive and transparent process of recruitment. All such corporations that can be profitably privatized will be put to a credible process of privatization.”
“Finally, where privatization is not a possible option either a management contract will be negotiated or fully independent management will be inducted to run the corporations on pure professional grounds,” he elaborated.
The Minister said Income Support Programme will be raised to Rs. 75 billion which is nearly double of the programme.
Rs 1000 per month under the income programme will be increased by 20 percent to Rs 1200 per month, he said.
He said the budget is part of a medium term framework spanning 2013-14 to 2015-16 and one of its key features is that GDP growth will gradually rise to 7 percent by FY 2015-16.
According to the framework, inflation will be maintained in single digit throughout the medium term, investment to GDP ratio will rise to 20 percent at the end of medium term, fiscal deficit will be brought to 4 percent of GDP and Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves will be increased to more than $ 20 billion at the end of this term, the minister explained. The Minister revealed that 3G licenses for mobile phone sector will fetch $1200 million and the government will also strive to secure the payment of $800 million from the Etisalat that is due for more than five years.
For promotion of housing sector, 3 marla housing schemes will be developed on government land for the homeless and to ensure access to credit for housing, government will allocate Rs. 3.5 billion to meet financing cost of people borrowing from banks for building homes, he added.
The Minister said Rs. 59 billion will be allocated for projects such as Katchi Canal, Rainee Canal, Kurram Tangi Dam, Pat Feeder Canal, Gomal Zam dam, Ghabir dam, Mangla Dam raising, lining of water courses in Sindh and Punjab and for flood protection and drainage schemes all over the country.
He said Rs. 225 billion has been allocated for the energy sector, Rs. 73 billion for road sector, Rs. 31 billion for railway, Rs. 57 billion for Higher Education Commission and Rs. 26 billion for national health initiatives.
The Minister said allocations have been made for Neelum Jehlum Project, Diamir Bhasha dam, Tarbela fourth extension project, Thar coal gasification, Chashma nuclear power plants and projects of Nandipur and Chichuki Malian power stations.
“We are according top most priority to connect the Gwadar port to the north by rapidly completing the various sections of Turbat-Basima-Ratodero and other smaller sections of M-8.”
“We have opened dialogue with the Chinese government for constructing a modern expressway linking Gwadar with Kashgar. This will be the modern equivalent of ancient Silk route.”
Ishaq Dar committed to revive Pakistan Railways and through an Act of Parliament convert it into a corporation managed by board comprising professionals from public transport, engineering and management.
Feasibility studies will be completed for linking Pakistan through railway from Gwadar to Afghanistan and from Gwadar to China and Karachi Circular Railway project will be expedited, he said.
The minister said the enrollment in higher education will increase from 1.08 million students to 1.23 million students in 2013-14 and foreign scholarships will rise to 6249.
For promotion of industry and regional trade, Export Promotion Zones will be developed with incentive packages. The government has a plan to develop Gwadar Special Economic Zone, which will be watershed for the economy of not just Balochistan but for the whole country, he added.
The Finance Minister said privatization programme will be revived to create more opportunities for the private sector to invest and manage newer assets.
Mr. Speaker,
——At the outset, I would like to articulate the economic vision that will be guiding our efforts in rebuilding the economy. It comprises the following  elements:
——First, we want to build an economy that is not dependent on others except through trade and investment, based on competitive advantage and market considerations. We are a strong nation of nearly 185 million people and a nuclear power. As much as we need to defend our frontiers, we need to protect our economic sovereignty also, which would only be possible when we refuse to live on handouts and foreign goodwill. Self-reliance has to be our real goal, for only then we will earn the needed respect in the ranks of the nations.  ——Second, the private sector has to be the lynchpin of economic activities, shouldering the largest burden of economic functions. A government too occupied in carrying out business activities that can best be done by the private sector through a market mechanism is indeed a prescription for distorting the entire economic system and creating inequities in its functioning. Of course, markets have to be regulated so that competitive environment is ensured.  Indeed, because we were too occupied in managing businesses we have grossly neglected the regulatory role of the government, to the detriment of safeguarding consumers’ interests.
——Third, the only areas where government’s presence in economic affairs can be justified is where investments are too large for private sector to undertake and/or markets are unlikely to function for lack of adequate commercial returns even though social returns will be very high, such as in education, health, population welfare and large infrastructure projects. Since social sector functions have been devolved to provinces, and for whom we will make adequate resources available, at the federal level our primary focus would be to radically alter and upgrade the fast depleting physical infrastructure of the country, most notably in the case of power sector where widespread shortages are seriously stifling the growth potential of our economy.  ——Fourth, all segments of the population must share the burden of resource mobilization for running the government.  The culture of exemptions and concessions must end to build a self-reliant economy. By the same token, if for reasons noted earlier, government has to undertake an economic service, full cost of operations must be recovered.  Non-recovery of cost, through subsidies and non-payment, may provide temporary relief, but it is an assured prescription for disruptive supplies and unviable operations for the companies providing those services.
——Fifth, government must limit itself within the broader limits imposed by the available resources, primarily determined by revenues collected through different taxes. On this account government’s performance generally has been dismal, as it has been incurring expenditures far in excess of our income.  I will say more on this later in my speech.
——Sixth, we have to protect our weak and poor segments of population. People of this country or for that matter any other nation, are our real strength. The marginalized groups represent a reservoir of potentialities which if realized will change the destiny of any nation. It is in this perspective that we have to treat our poor and weak segments of population with care and inclusion. Such are also the groups most vulnerable to extremist ideologies if neglected. Building a reliable and accessible social safety net for these peoples is an imperative that we will be committed to fulfill.
——Even though this is a simple vision we have strayed from this path for a long period of time. In the meanwhile, powerful interest groups have emerged who would like the country to continue to walk along the familiar but distorted path. In our view, we have lost considerable time in failing to give a predictable and stable path to our economy. We should not waste any more time in creating a definite and unmistakable direction for our economy so that investors can make long-term decisions, both domestic and foreign and our identity, inherent in the above vision, is firmly established in the eyes of the world.
10. This budget will unfold the implementation plan for this vision. This vision will not be realized tomorrow rather it is a long journey that we have to travel steadfastly. However, a journey of thousand miles starts with first steps, and that is what, Mr. Speaker, this House will see that in this budget we will be laying the foundations for realization of this vision. Main Elements of Budget Strategy.
Mr. Speaker
——Let me turn to specific policy measures we are adopting in the present budget to address challenges facing the economy and their solutions:
——Reduction of fiscal deficit: At the outset, let me state that the main plank of our budget strategy is to reduce fiscal deficit so that its ill effects that pervade through the entire economy can be avoided. The revised estimate for deficit for 2012-13 is Rs.2024 billion or 8.8% of the GDP and we plan to reduce it to Rs.1651 billion or by nearly 2.5 percentage points to 6.3% of the GDP. We need to further reduce it but we have to do so gradually and in the medium term we do plan to reduce it to 4% of GDP.
——Raising Tax Revenues: I will lay down tax policy and specific measures in the second part of my speech.  ——Arresting Inflationary Pressures: The following measures will help in arresting the inflationary pressures:
——Reduction in deficit will have salutary effect on inflation.
——Regular price monitoring will be undertaken with a view to ensure adequate supplies of all commodities.  Extensive networks of Juma and Itwar bazaars all across the country will be established and wherever required imports will be used to ward-off of domestic shortages.
——We will be using public savings and cheap foreign borrowings to finance deficit and reduce the burden of debt servicing. New domestic saving schemes will be introduced aimed at enhancing public access to government securities which are presently heavily concentrated amongst the banks and given their high spreads much of the benefits of government borrowings are flowing to banks than to general depositors.
——Finally, we will be inducting professional managers in debt management and taking advantage of numerous opportunities to diversify our debts both domestic and international.  v. Elimination of borrowings from State Bank will be pursued vigorously. However, I am at pain to point out that the SBP Act, 1956, which was amended by this parliament in 2012 imposing two important constraints on the government borrowings from the State Bank, which is basically printing of money, has been consistently violated by the government. First, government could borrow from SBP only for a maximum period of 3 months, and at the end of each quarter those borrowings will have to be retired.  Second, the then existing stock of debt from the State Bank, some Rs.1400 billion, was to be retired in a period of 8 years. Rather than any retirement, this stock of debt now stands at Rs.2300 billion. We are now faced with this onerous responsibility to retire this debt in 6 years at the rate of nearly Rs.400 billion annually.
——Resolving the Energy Crisis: Not withstanding its enormity, PML (N) government is fully committed to solving the energy crisis facing the nation. We have chalked out a program and we are inshallah putting it in operation forthwith. The plan includes the following elements: First, I am pleased to announce that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has taken an historic decision to settle the entire circular debt in 60 days, so that every available and economically viable source of power could be brought on line. Second, as a result of this, we are confident that the duration of loadshedding in the country will begin to come down. Third, for this monumental effort to have the desired effect on the continued viability of the sector, it is imperative that we must do all that is needed to stop its recurrence in the future. I urge all consumers to pay their bills, for without recovery of cost no service can be provided indefinitely.  Fourth, the office of the Federal Adjuster will be reorganized and strengthened so that it will ensure expeditious recovery of arrears of electricity from the provincial governments.  Fifth, Prime Minister will soon announce a comprehensive plan to incentivize and encourage further investment in energy projects in Pakistan.
——Nandipur Project: I would also like to inform this House that a highly economical power project, Nandipur for 425 MW, which initially had a cost of Rs.23 billion was a victim of criminal negligence and its imported machinery has remained stranded for the last three years for want of clearance of certain documents from government departments. Today its cost has risen to Rs.57 billion. We have taken immediate cognizance of this situation and are making necessary efforts to have the documents released and obtain fresh approval from the competent forums. As soon as these are in place in the next few weeks, work on its reconstruction will start immediately and inshallah shall be completed in 18 months. In the meanwhile, let me make it abundantly clear that all those responsible for inflicting this phenomenal loss on the nation shall be brought to justice.  ——Reducing un-targeted subsidies: As I noted earlier, we must save country’s finances by relieving it from the burden of un-targeted subsidies. We are conscious of the need for the weaker sections of the population to be helped by the government. Accordingly, any scheme of subsidy, whether in electricity, gas, fertilizer, sugar and wheat must be targeted to reach to those weaker segments. We therefore plan to rationalize the present subsidies and discourage their 12 indiscriminate use and evolve targeting mechanism to ensure that deserving recipients should benefit from them.  ——Improving Balance of Payments: Our biggest woe at the moment is near absence of foreign resources, critically needed to sustain our balance of payments and provide additional resources for development. Inshallah, we are giving an economic vision and implementing it in this budget that will significantly raise the confidence of our development partners. We will soon sort our issues with IFIs and normal flows will begin to flow in the country. More importantly, we will ensure a transparent auction of 3-G licenses that will fetch about $1,200 million. We will also strive to secure the payment of $800 million from the Etisalat that is due for more than 5 years. On the back of improved relations with IFIs, we will return to international capital markets so that additional resources can be mobilized from this source also. We also plan to reinvigorate the privatization program that will also provide us requisite foreign resource and be a catalyst for revival of foreign investment in the country.  ——Creating New Jobs: As I have already stated, much of the new jobs will have to be created primarily in the private sector. However, government will also play its part in this regard. In a short while I will give you more details of the public sector development plan. For now, let me say that despite reducing fiscal deficit we are raising the development expenditure from a budgeted Rs.360 billion in the current year to Rs.540 billion which is a significant increase of nearly 50%. The provincial governments will make another investment of about Rs.615 billion taking the total public sector investment to Rs.1,155 billion which is a healthy 4.4% of GDP. Clearly, there is room for further increase in development spending but given the resource constraint we have protected development expenditure and increasing it also as compared to current expenditures. This investment will create numerous jobs in various sectors of the economy and spur other economic activities, which will create further opportunities for gainful pursuits by our people.  ——Raising Investment for Growth: Our biggest economic challenge is to radically increase the level of investment in the economy. I have already noted some of the steps we are taking to reduce budget deficit, bring down inflation and pave the way for a reduction in the interest rate, all of which will make room for private investment.
Mr. Speaker
——These are immediate challenges and our responses as we tackle them. But our vision requires deeper reflection on the problems of our economy. There has to be a long-term view of enhancing country’s productive capacity. Accordingly, this budget is part of a medium term framework spanning 2013-14 to 2015-16 and hence we have a larger time frame in mind while formulating our economic policy. The key features of this framework are:
(a) GDP growth to gradually rise to 7% by FY 2015-16.
(b) Inflation will be maintained in single digit throughout the medium term.
(c) Investment to GDP ratio will rise to 20% at the end of medium term.
(d) Fiscal deficit to be brought to 4% of GDP by 2015-16.
(e) Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves will be increased to more than $20 billion at the end of medium term.
——Evidently, these targets are ambitious but these are imperative for the revival of the economy and quite consistent with its potential. Besides, we have the determination to turn around the destiny of this nation and its for this reason people have given us this mandate.
Development plan
Mr. Speaker
——Let me now share some of the key initiatives that we are taking in the development budget. I will keep my attention to only those sectors that will contribute most to the economic development.
WATER:
Allah has blessed Pakistan with one of the best water resources in the world. We have also inherited an extensive network of irrigation canals, water courses and barrages and our early leadership had the vision of building such mega projects as Tarbela and Mangla that have enabled us to support our agriculture, so central to our economic life. But unfortunately we have failed to add to such critical projects or maintain these precious assets. To meet the growing needs of water it is imperative that we build new reservoirs and use every cusec of available water for development of energy.
——It is this vision in view that is reflected in our development plan allocation for the water sector. We are investing Rs.59 billion for the water sector projects that will include such projects as Katchi Canal (Dera Bugti and Nasirabad), Rainee Canal (Ghotki and Sukkur), Kurram Tangi Dam (North Waziristan), Extension of Pat Feeder Canal t o Dera Bugti, Gomal Zam Dam (South Waziristan), Ghabir Dam (Chakwal), completion of Mangla Dam raising, lining of water courses in Sindh and Punjab, flood protection and drainage schemes all over the country.
POWER:
Mr. Speaker
17. I need not underline the significance of the power sector in Pakistan and what our people are suffering due to widespread shortages. Nothing has consumed the time and energy of PML (N) leadership more than the problem of energy and its immediate resolution. There are some urgent but durable steps we are taking that I have announced in the budget to resolve the central problem behind the energy crisis, namely the circular debt. However, our real concern is to develop additional resources of energy so as to permanently overcome the problem of shortages. The largest amount of resources, accordingly, is being devoted to create more economical capacity in the country. During the current year a sum of Rs.225 billion will be invested in this sector of which Rs.107 billion will come from the PSDP and the remaining will be mobilized by PEPCOWAPDA through government support. The projects included in the program include Neelum-Jehlum Hydro Power Project (1000 MW), Diamir-Bhasha Dam and Hydropower Project (4500 MW), Tarbela Fourth Extension Project (1410 MW), Thar Coal Gasification Project (100 W), Chashma Civil Nuclear Power project (600 MW), Two Karachi Nuclear Coastal Power Projects (2200 MW) with Chinese assistance, Keyal Khawar Hydro Project (122 MW), Allai Khawar Hydro Project (122 MW), Combined Cycle Power Projects at Nandipur and Chichiki Malian (950 MW), Upgradation of Guddu Power Project (747 MW gas-based), conversion of oil based power projects to coal at Muzaffargarh and Jamshoro (3,120 MW) and numerous projects to improve the transmission lines, grid-stations and distribution systems.
Mr. Speaker
 These are immediate challenges and our responses as we tackle them. But our vision requires deeper reflection on the problems of our economy. There has to be a long-term view of enhancing country’s productive capacity. Accordingly, this budget is part of a medium term framework spanning 2013-14 to 2015-16 and hence we have a larger time frame in mind while formulating our economic policy. The key features of this framework are:
(a)    GDP growth to gradually rise to 7% by FY 2015-16.
(b)    Inflation will be maintained in single digit throughout the medium term.
(c)    Investment to GDP ratio will rise to 20% at the end of medium term.
(d)    Fiscal deficit to be brought to 4% of GDP by 2015-16.
(e)    Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves will be increased to more than $20 billion at the end of medium term.
——Evidently, these targets are ambitious but these are imperative for the revival of the economy and quite consistent with its potential. Besides, we have the determination to turn around the destiny of this nation and its for this reason people have given us this mandate.
Development plan
Mr. Speaker
——Let me now share some of the key initiatives that we are taking in the development budget. I will keep my attention to only those sectors that will contribute most to the economic development.
Water
——Allah (SWT) has blessed Pakistan with one of the best water resources in the world. We have also inherited an extensive network of irrigation canals, water courses and barrages and our early leadership had the vision of building such mega projects as Tarbela and Mangla that have enabled us to support our agriculture, so central to our economic life. But unfortunately we have failed to add to such critical projects or maintain these precious assets. To meet the growing needs of water it is imperative that we build new reservoirs and use every cusec of available water for development of energy.
——It is this vision in view that is reflected in our development plan allocation for the water sector. We are investing Rs.59 billion for the water sector projects that will include such projects as Katchi Canal (Dera Bugti and Nasirabad), Rainee Canal (Ghotki and Sukkur), Kurram Tangi Dam (North Waziristan), Extension of Pat Feeder Canal to Dera Bugti, Gomal Zam Dam (South Waziristan), Ghabir Dam (Chakwal), completion of Mangla Dam raising, lining of water courses in Sindh and Punjab, flood protection and drainage schemes all over the country.
POWER
Mr. Speaker
17.    I need not underline the significance of the power sector in Pakistan and what our people are suffering due to widespread shortages. Nothing has consumed the time and energy of PML (N) leadership more than the problem of energy and its immediate resolution. There are some urgent but durable steps we are taking that I have announced in the budget to resolve the central problem behind the energy crisis, namely the circular debt. However, our real concern is to develop additional resources of energy so as to permanently overcome the problem of shortages. The largest amount of resources, accordingly, is being devoted to create more economical capacity in the country. During the current year a sum of
Rs.225 billion will be invested in this sector of which Rs.107 billion will come from the PSDP and the remaining will be mobilized by PEPCOWAPDA through government support. The projects included in the program include Neelum-Jehlum Hydro Power Project (1000 MW), Diamir-Bhasha Dam and Hydropower Project (4500 MW), Tarbela Fourth Extension Project (1410 MW), Thar Coal Gasification Project (100 W), Chashma Civil Nuclear Power project (600 MW), Two Karachi Nuclear Coastal Power Projects (2200 MW) with Chinese assistance, Keyal Khawar Hydro Project (122 MW), Allai Khawar Hydro Project (122 MW), Combined Cycle Power Projects at Nandipur and Chichiki Malian (950 MW), Upgradation of Guddu Power Project (747 MW gas-based), conversion of oil based power projects to coal at Muzaffargarh and Jamshoro (3,120 MW) and numerous projects to improve the transmission lines, grid-stations and distribution systems.
18.    It can be judged that we have a long-term plan to add cheap power to the national grid and substitute the current dependence on fuel oil to cheaper alternatives. The improvements in fuel mix will mean future tariffs will not be rising as fast as they have been in the recent past.
HIGHWAYS
Mr. Speaker
19.    Since the time Mian Nawaz Sharif took the bold decision of building the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway, no comparable project has been undertaken, despite the fact that since its construction the size of the economy has increased manifold and indigenous needs for connectivity are also multiplying. It is with this urgency that we have carefully examined the entire portfolio of national highways and have reprioritized it in accordance with the needs of the country.
20.    Both urban and rural populations need communications for their economics. Farmers will not be able to get good prices for their produce nor can urban producers be cost effective in the absence of communication links that can efficiently transport their products to target markets. Indeed, we must treat development of efficient communication as an important instrument of poverty reduction, since a significant number of poor people are disconnected with the places of economic opportunities and remain poor for lack of access to such places.
21.    It is amazing that Gwadar Port was constructed and no significant effort was made to provide connectivity with the north even though nearly a decade has passed since its completion. Coastal Highway was made to bring things to Karachi, completely neutralizing the benefits that were supposed to accrue with a new port at Gwadar.
22.    We are according top most priority to connect the Gwadar Port to the north by rapidly completing the various sections of Turbat-Basima-
Ratodero and other smaller sections of M-8 so that the real benefits of the port will begin to flow to the people. We will also accelerate the work on M-4 connecting Faisalabad to Khanewal and Multan. We plan to undertake a fresh initiative to build M-9 linking Karachi-Hyderabad on Public Private Partnership basis and we are confident that we will succeed in executing this project within the shortest possible time. Let me announce the commitment of our government regarding motorways: the entire system of motorways planned by NHA will be completed during the next five years.  This network will guarantee vast expansion in domestic trade, significant reduction in cost of transportation of goods from north to south, cheap transport for people to move around in different parts of the country and increased opportunities of tourism in the country.
23.    Besides, the motorway network we have opened a preliminary dialogue with the Chinese government for constructing a high quality modern expressway linking Gwadar with Kashgar. This will be the modern equivalent of ancient silk-route. This is a visionary project and will unleash an historic progress in the region and provide a critical opening for Pakistan with our northern neighborhood.
24.    Apart from these strategic projects, we are investing in a large number of national highways, bridges, rehabilitation and reconstruction of national roads destroyed by the floods and regional roads for connectivity.A sum of about Rs.73 billion has been kept in the budget for the road sector. Numerous job opportunities will be created while undertaking the above projects.
RAILWAYS
Mr. Speaker
25.    One of the most unfortunate examples of wasting our inherited infrastructure at the time of Partition can be found in the state in which our railway is found today. Once a most effective, extensive and efficient network of communication is not even a shade of its past. The speed with which the railways’ significance in the transport sector has declined indicates that it is headed for near extinction. This is simply unacceptable.
The world over, rail transport is regaining its lost glory as more investments are made and faster trains are built for both passenger and goods transport. What is more, this mode has been declared as environment friendly and hence it should be preferable to vehicular traffic that is degrading our road infrastructure and increases our dependence on fossil fuels.
26.   Our Railway is the victim of bad governance, low investments in maintenance, induction of new locomotives, upgradation of rolling stocks, replacement and modernization of primitive signaling syste