Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Wednesday that all necessary steps would be taken to reduce the revenue deficit being faced by the Pakistan Railways (PR).

Speaking to the media after offering Eidul Azha prayers here, the railways minister said that it was unfortunate that half of the corruption cases in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were, in one way or the other, related to the Railways. “I have been assigned with the task to streamline the affairs of Railways,” he added. The minister said that he wanted to eradicate corruption from the country. “At least 25 commissions were needed to completely wipe out the menace,” he added.

To a question, he said that if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) succeeded to deliver on at least 15 per cent of its pledges, it would be enough to satisfy the people about its performance. The newly-appointed Railways minister also said that he wanted to eliminate crime, but he was instead appointed as the railways minister. Sheikh Rasheed said, “I will finish railways losses, bring profits and will also create jobs.”