LAHORE:In an important milestone, Railways target has risen 10.714% from Rs 28 billion to Rs 31 billion and will get get 70 locomotives besides signing agreement with NLC on November 14.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique here the other day revealed that 70 locomotives would be dedicated for freight sector of Pakistan Railways before the end of fiscal year 2014-15. He also said that the PR revenue target had been increased from Rs28 billion to Rs31 billion while the expenditures decreased from Rs65 billion to Rs62.5 billion. Rafique made these announcements while addressing a press conference at Railways headquarters. The minister held that the public utility would be rehabilitated in next one and half year and turned into a stable organisation till the end of PML-N government’s tenure.
He said the department would be able to compare itself with the regional railways within 10 years. The Railways was going to add 10 locomotive of National Logistic Cell in its fleet and the agreement will be held on November 14, he announced. As per the minister, the performance of the PR was presented before the Prime Minister and Federal Cabinet and was appreciated by the both.
“I congratulate the Railways’ management and all employees for working hard for the betterment of the department and hoping that they will continue their efforts in same lines with the same spirit.” He said that provincial governments except from the KPK had not so far transferred the ownership of the railways land to the department as per the order of the Supreme Court and requested the three provincial governments for the transfer of the land.
He said none of the provincial government except from Punjab had so far cooperated with the department to transfer unmanned level crossing into manned level crossing. He informed that the railways would conduct a survey to increase the occupancy of the trains in passenger sector. The revenue from passenger sector would increase by around Rs. one billion, adding further coaches in trains, he expected.
Khwaja Saad said that railways land which almost turned into heaps of garbage in populated areas of different cities would be turned into grossy plots and parks with the cooperation of private companies. To a question, he replied the railways had no plan to decrease the fares as they were already less as compared to road transport. The administration would keep this reduction level continue in coming days as well, he added.
