KARACHI: Pakistan Railways is fast back on track with exponential increase in its freight train operations, besides consistent efforts to ensure provision of reliable and cost-effective travel facilities to passengers.
The growth in cargo trains operations from merely 30 trains per month in 2013 to over 350 operating now indicates the reviving public confidence in Pakistan Railways, thanks to the untiring efforts by Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq.
Talking to APP, Pakistan Railways Divisional Commercial Officer Karachi Nasir Nazir said Karachi division earned Rs 3.56 billion revenue in 4 months and 18 days of the current financial year, which included over Rs 2 billion generated by freight train service.
He pointed out that hardly 30 freight trains were operating per month in 2013, and this number has jumped to more than 350 trains, which are transporting commercial cargo from Karachi to other parts of the country.
The Railways officer stated that cargo trains made Rs 7.22 billion record-revenue in 2014-15, adding that it is the outcome of the Federal Government's conducive policies.
He said that the government imported 55 new locomotives from China which helped pull the Railways out of deficit and turned it into a profitable institution.
Nasir Nazir further informed that Railway's Karachi Division generated Rs. 12.43 billion in 2014-15 as against the target of Rs. 9.30 billion, which reflects a surplus of Rs. 3.13 billion.
He observed that people have again started to travel by train, as Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq has made it sure that trains follow their schedule arrivals/departures so that people could reach their destinations on time. Similarly, low freight charges boosted commercial cargo operations, he added.
The Railways officer pointed that Pakistan Railways is upgrading railway stations to encourage people to use this mode of transport. In the first phase, he said, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi railway stations will be upgraded.
Besides the renovation of stations, waiting rooms, restaurants and dinning rooms will also be built to facilitate passengers. Moreover, he added, shopping malls are being constructed near railway stations.
Nasir Nazir said that the government is particularly working to ensure that passenger trains follow their schedule, adding that action would be taken against those found using delaying tactics.
The officer stated that operations against encroachments are under way to retrieve billions of rupees worth railways land, adding that provincial government, police and Rangers are cooperating in this endeavor. He said that billions of rupees worth land has been recovered from land-grabbers in Auto Bhan, Hyderabad. Similarly, railways' encroached lands are being retrieved in Karachi's Chanesar Goth, City Station, Cantt. Colony and other areas.
Answering a question about Moon Garden apartments' land, he maintained that the land does not belong to Pakistan Railways. He explained that Railway Employees Cooperative Housing Society had obtained 53 acres for 99 years against only Rs. 1.3 million. He maintained that the management of Railway Cooperative Housing Society had handed over 2.1 acre out of that piece of land to Moon Builders years ago without fulfilling legal formalities.
He stressed that Pakistan Railways is not in favour of the eviction of Moon Gardens' residents. He observed that action should be taken against the Railways Employees Society management and builders, adding that legal aspects are being evaluated in this regard.
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