ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary of Pakistan Railways Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah Friday informed the National Assembly that presently, 81,568 employees are on pay roll of Pakistan Railways and sanctioned strength is above 95,000.
Replying to a question, during Question Hour in the Lower House, Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah said that it was not correct that railway employees were performing trains operation duties in shifts.
Ashiq Hussain said that their duties are of technical nature and are being performed only by the qualified person, not by any other person.
He said that at present, 6390 employees are working in Pakistan Railways Police and were assigned the duties of security and safety of Railway assets i.e. railway installations, key points, railway coaches, railway track and railway Stations etc.
Parliamentary Secretary said that they undergo specific training courses to meet with the security challenges whereas employees of Pakistan Railways are provided different types of training for relating to train operation and are not suitable/eligible for performing security related duties which is prime responsibility of the Railway Police.
He said that there is no proposal under consideration of the government to import new locomotives from China and no amount has been allocated for this purpose.
Pakistan Railways was not planning to shift Railways Headquarter Office Lahore to Islamabad as there are three major organizational units are working at there, he added.
He said the control rooms of Pakistan Railways are equipped with instruments to monitor the train movement; however the installation of most modern tracking system based on latest technology is under installation at the main places which control the train movement over the system.
The locations are Peshawar Division Railway Control Office, Rawalpindi Division Railway Control Office, Lahore Division Railway Control Office, Central Control Office, Headquarter Office, Lahore, Multan Division Railway Control Office, Sukkur Division Railway Control Office, Karachi Division Railway Control Office and Quetta Division Railway Control Office.
He said that Railways have purchased sixty-three (63) diesel-electric locomotives during the last five years. Fifty-eight (58) new diesel-electric locomotives are being imported in Complete Built Unit (CBU) form amounting to US$ 116.860 Million under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and financed completely by government.
Ashiq Hussain said the contract agreement was signed with M/s. CSR Ziyang, China on 07-12-2012. The project envisages procurement of twenty- nine (29) locomotives of 3000 HP and twenty-nine (29) locomotives of 2000 HP.
He said that none of the new 58 locomotives have been declared defective. There have been some initial teething troubles in these locomotives and most of these have been rectified.
Moreover, these locomotives are being extensively utilized on main line passenger and freight train operations and their performance is being monitored very closely. As yet, there is no evidence to suggest that the locomotives are defective, he added.
He said that a contract agreement for procurement/manufacture of 69 No. Diesel Electric (D.E) Locomotives was executed with M/s. Dognfang Electric Corporation, China on 08-11-2001.
These locomotives were inducted in the Railways system from the year 2003 to 2008. The locomotives experienced inherent/technical defects during the service due to which their availability declined and the overall performance remained un-satisfactory, he added.
Presently the case is under NAB's investigation and due action would be taken on finalization of the NAB's inquiry/investigation.
He said that present government was taking several steps to reduce the losses included reduction in fares resulted into attracting extra passengers towards rail that consequently increased the passenger earning as well as other coaching.
Availability of locomotives in freight pool has been enhanced from 08 locomotives to 25 locomotives on daily basis that generated activity and made it possible to start three to five freight trains ex, Karachi port daily for up country, he added.
Ashiq Hussain said that punctuality of passenger trains has been improved from 10% to 55%. HSD Oil reserve was limited for two days which has been enhanced to 12 days to streamline the operation of trains.
He said that Punjab Government cleared outstanding of more than Rs. 800 million. 6. 211.046 acres of land retrieved from the encroachers the value of retrieved land amount to Rs. 723.781 million.
Parliamentary secretary said that from July, 2013 to June, 2014, Pakistan Railways managed to earn Rs.23.981 billion as against Rs.18.069 billion when compared with the same period of corresponding year. Thus registered and increase of Rs. 5.912 billion.
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