Initially selected railway stations, few trains to be used for branding: Saad Rafique.

LAHORE -- Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Monday that initially selected railway

stations and some trains would be used to implement branding initiative.

Addressing a branding conference at a local hotel, he said that spaces would be offered

for branding on few trains and at selected railway stations and gradually this initiative

would be implemented in the whole system.

He said, "Branding initiative should be implemented in such a way that it may not affect

the esthetic sense."

In past, he said a lot of efforts had been made to start branding initiative in railways

and to use its locations and trains for commercial and publicity purposes.

Khawaja Saad Rafique said that being a Pakistani all of us should make sincere efforts

to steer the country out of existing challenges.

He said that honest officers had been appointed on main posts in railways and there

was no political interference within the department, adding that even railways minister

could not interfere in the policies of railways.

Branding initiative would help private companies to enhance their business and he requested

the private companies to take it as a national cause and play their role in strengthening the railway.

He said: "If we look at other countries, railway play a significant role in strengthening economy

of any country."

The Minister said that two decades were required to turnaround railways, adding that results

could not be achieved through hollow slogans.

He said: "Despite financial challenges in the railways we will keep our spirit high to uplift the

department."

Saad Rafique said that efforts were being made to start Main Line-1 project in a viable situation

after cost cutting.

He said that railways wanted to move forward with the support of private sector and in light

of professional opinion.

The Railways Minister said that there was a lot of potential in the country and efforts had

to be made in...