LAHORE – Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad Monday said 10 newpassenger trains would be run in 100 days, besides putting 12 more trainson freight side.
The people would get a big news about launching of a new freight trainduring the current month, he said talking to media persons here.
He said the Pakistan Railways (PR) was making efforts to increase thenumber of passengers from 50 million to 70 million and freight trains fromeight to twelve. Prime Minister Imran Khan would chair a committee meetingto take important decisions regarding the railways, he added.
About derailment of Khushhal Khan Express, he said AME Peshawar and DeputyCME (Carriage and Wagon) had been suspended, and warned that the divisionalsuperintendents (DS) of strict action in case of not proper maintenance oftracks in their limits. “We have decided that the DS should be responsiblefor the tracks’ maintenance,” he said, adding officers showing negligencein their duties would be taken to task.The minister said the Pakistan Railways would recover its dues worthbillions of rupees from the public and private persons / entities at theearliest.
The department, he said, was going to sign a contract with Saeed Soigal andMr Yahya for transportation of another 50,000 tons of coal. This contract,which would be valid till 2021, would generate Rs 1.2 billion revenue perannum, he added.
He said the Pakistan Railways owned 15 oil depots to fuel its engines withan annual expenditure of Rs 14 billion, which would be enhanced to Rs 18billion. The current management, however, had decided to carry out animmediate audit of all the oil depots and the Pakistan Railways wouldhopefully be able to save Rs 1 to 2 billion.Things would be cleared after the audit report and any officer or officialfound involved in corruption would be dismissed from the service, he added.
Sheikh Rasheed said process was underway to install defoggers and otherrelated equipment on the trains within next two months, so as to carry morepassengers and ensure smooth flow of railway traffic during foggy weather.“We have great support of overseas Pakistanis in this regard,” he added.
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The minister said the PR wanted to outsource the marketing had invited theprivate sector for branding of railway stations . The department had alsodecided to make Tezgam Express up to the mark keeping in view its name of‘Tezgam, in order to meet the passengers’ expectations.The minister said the department also wanted to develop industrial zones onits lands near railway stations, but it had not yet been able to manageresources for the purpose. However, the authorities concerned werepondering over the ways and means to materialize the plan, he added.
In addition to improving the broad-guage track, he said, the PakistanRailways had also decided to lay a new track of standard guage from Karachito Peshawar because the 120 km per hour ruts were no more effective forrunning the modern day trains.Prepaid electricity meters would be installed on all 70,000 residences ofthe railway staff, he added.
To a question, he said the previous government had awarded contract for themaintenance of 63 engines for Rs 4.5 billion while 10 engines of NLC alsohad an expenditure of Rs 50 million per month. “We are working on it as tohow we can reduce our expenditure and enhance the profit.”The minister said the historic red dress of coolie (railway station porter)had been changed. A welfare organization was providing free-of-charge mealto them at Rawalpindi Railway Station and the department was contactingsome other welfare organizations to the same at all other railways stations.
Since oil prices were shooting up, he said, awareness seminars would bearranged in all cities so as to highlight the government’s concept of fueleconomy, which was need of the hour. – APP
