Railways planning to increase 15 freight trains in 100-day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways is all set to increase freight train from 10 to 15 during first 100 day of the present government to overcome the deficit of the department.

In this regard, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid has established a task force on freight trains to improve its business, an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

He said that Pakistan Railway has earned Rs 1,367.038 million more then previous year till 20-10-2018 and installation of tracking system in trains is in final stage. By this there will be strict monitoring of trains movement.

Fuel expenditure will be reduced by approximately one billion rupees per annum. Railways colonies will be handed over to Wapda as electricity is purchase from Wapda in bulk on commercial rate and subsidized to Railways colonies on domestic rates.

There will be a huge saving on this account, he added. He said that Freight Deposit Account (FDA) based agreement with Ms Maple Leaf Cement Factory and MoUs with Awan Trading Company, Chishtian Logistics.

Bestway Cement, Solution Enterprises. Fatima Group for transportation of Coal and Mughal Logistics for containerized traffic have been signed.

At present, the official said that average 9-10 freight trains are being operated from port as compared to one train in day in the year 2013.Introduction of competitive freight rates to attract road traffic to rail.

He said that Pakistan Railways entered into an agreement with Pakistan Freight Transportation Co. (PRFTC) for transportation of 12,000 MTs of Coal per day with running of five Coal trains daily for Coal Fired Power Plant, Sahiwal and transportation of 345000 MTs per month of coal to Jamshoroo Power Plant per day with running of 5 trains per day.

Pakistan Railways entered into agreement with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for transportation of 200,000 million tons of petroleum -products per annum from Karachi to up-country destinations, he added. The official said that high capacity/high speed hopper truck have been inducted in the current fleet for swift movement of coal.