Railways earn Rs 26,268mn, 38.95mn passengers travel by train in 9 months

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways earned Rs 26,268 million during the period of July to March, 2016-17 as 38.95 million passengers travelled by train.

According to official sources, during July-March 2016-17, passenger traffic and freight carried improved by 7.0 percent and 4.7 percent respectively.

While the gross earning and freight tonnes remained lower by 0.6 percent and 3.2 percent respectively against the corresponding period of last year.

Gross earning along with passenger traffic, freight carried and freight tonnes had improved by 14.6 percent, 4.5 percent, 38.9 percent and 44.6 percent respectively in financial year 2015-16.

Pakistan Railways has a definite edge over road transport for long haul and mass scale traffic movement both for passenger and freight in addition to providing a safe, economical and environment friendly mode of transport.

The network of Pakistan Railways comprises 7,791 route kilometers, 451 locomotives including 439 diesel locomotives and 12 steam locomotives, 1,732 passengers coaches and 15,948 freight wagons.

The government of Pakistan has allocated Rs 41 billion in federal PSPD for the financial year 2016-17 for the development interventions in Pakistan Railways.

Railways has taken a number of initiatives to increase its revenue.

Under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), Pakistan Railways has started several trains to cater to the needs of business community and general public.

Pakistan Railway has also involved private sector in the management and operation of terminal facilities including dry ports.

Prem Nagar dry port Lahore is the first successful model of joint venture between Pakistan Railways and two private parties.

Upgradation of Mainline-1 (ML1) and construction of dry port and cargo handling facilities have been included as Early Harvest Projects (EHP) under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and preparatory work on these projects has been initiated on fast track basis.

Framework agreement between the National Railway Administration, Government of China and the Ministry of Railways, Government of Pakistan on implementation for upgradation of ML-I and Establishment of Havelian Dry Port of Pakistan Railways was being signed.

While, e-ticketing has been introduced to facilitate customers.