*RAWALPINDI: *Pakistan Railways has announced it is reducing the fare forits express passenger train Green Line that runs between Karachi andRawalpindi by 10%.
The Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) of Pakistan Railways Rawalpindi,Raza Ali Habib, told APP that “Pakistan Railways have reduced over Rs600from the old fare Rs5990 to the new fare of Rs5340 for the passengerstravelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi.”
From Rawalpindi to Lahore the train fare for Green Line has been fixed atRs1,200 while from Rawalpindi to Khanewal the passengers will be chargedRs2410.
Similarly, Rs3180 is the new fare for travelling from Rawalpindi toBahawalpur and Rs4430 from Rawalpindi to Rohri.
Green Line passengers will now pay Rs5060 for their journey betweenRawalpindi to Hyderabad.
Habib informed APP that “due to enhanced security measures, quality serviceand punctuality, the number of passengers travelling via train isincreasing day by day and over 42,56,318 passengers travelled through therail service during 2017 from Rawalpindi Division.”
The division earned Rs1864213 million last year, he added.
Habib continued that “Pakistan Railways, Rawalpindi Division have earnedRs1612.618 million against the set target of Rs1595.851 million up to March20, during the last nine months of financial year 2017-18.
Habib further said that Rawalpindi division generated Rs16.767 millionadditional revenues during the period particularly from passenger service.
The income of Rawalpindi Railways passenger trains remained at Rs1864.213million, revenue generated by freight trains was Rs 448.728 million andother heads contributed Rs 290.919 million during last year, he added.
“Due to continuous efforts and hardworking of railways management, officersand workers, Rawalpindi Division’s income increased considerably,” he said.
Habib also said, “total earnings of Pakistan Railways including passengers,freight and other services were Rs18 billion in 2013 however, this year inaround nine months of 2017-18 financial year, approximately Rs33549.928million have been earned against the set target of Rs32606.245 million withRs 943.683 million additional revenue.”
He expressed the hope that this year, Pakistan Railways would earn overRs45 billion. Last year, the revenue generation was Rs38 billion againstthe Pakistan Railways’ set target of Rs35 billion.
According to rail passengers, an improvement was observed in railwaysoperations over the last five years.
“Pakistan Railways was one of the neglected departments, but the incumbentgovernment and current administration has turned things around,” apassenger said. – APP