ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan Railways has leased out as many as its 6496.13 acres land for various purposes, including premium shops, stacking, agriculture and parking stands during the last three years from January, 2014 to December, 2016.
As many as 470 acres land was leased out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5,133 acres in Punjab, 833 in Sindh and 59 acres in Balochistan, an official in the Ministry told APP.
He pointed out that Pakistan Railway had earned Rs 4,653.917 million in last three years (2013-2016) as compared to Rs 1,578.136 million in previous three years (2010-2013).
"The policy of the present government is to maximize the use of surplus railway land through short term and medium term leasing instead of outright sale or long term leasing," he added.
He said the leasing of railway lands for various purposes, therefore, was an ongoing process and would be actively used, specially for agricultural purposes.
In addition, some potential sites for commercial exploitation had also been identified, which would be put to open auction in phases, he added.