ISLAMABAD – Minister for Pakistan Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Wednesdaysaid Railways has finalized a plan to upgrade its track from Karachi toPeshawar via Lahore in the next five years under China Pakistan EconomicCorridor (CPEC)project.
Responding a question asked by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi in Senate, hesaid the Main Line-1 from Karachi to Peshawar via Lahore exceptKhanewal-Shor Kot-Faisalabad-Shahdara Section will be upgraded under CPECproject.
The minister said Railways track from Lahore to Peshawar via Rawalpindiwill be dualised in the next five years.
730 kilometer track has been rehabilitated/ partially rehabilitated throughComplete Track Renewal, Sleeper Renewal and Rail Renewal under differentPSDP Projects, he added.
He informed that PC-I for rehabilitation of Track and Bridges in SukkurDivision is in process.
He said average 77.10 percent of track is overage, while 86 percent ofRailways bridges are more than 100 years old but all bridges are safe fortrain operation due to effective maintenance owing to regular maintenance,rehabilitation and strengthening of these bridges.
Read Top Stories
Responding to another question, the minister said all the bridges areinspected annually as per schedule and minor repair are carried outdepartmentally in routine to ensure safety.
Recently 230 bridges have been rehabilitated/ reconstructed under variousdevelopment projects, he added.
Replying a question, he said total number of posts lying vacant in PakistanRailways in BS-01 to BS-22 are 23,748. To another query, he said an area of15,025.44 acres has been licensed/leased out for various purpose(premiumshops, stacking, agriculture, parking stands & petrol pumps) during lastten years from January, 2008 to December, 2017.APP
