Ten new trains launched by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government have incurred Rs 167 million to the national exchequer so far, while overall punctuality of trains declined from 76 percent to 71 percent. This was revealed in a meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways which met with MNA Muhammad Mueen Wattoo in the chair here on Monday.
Briefing the committee Chief Operation Railways Waqar Ahmed said that trains punctuality was 61 percent in 2016-17, 71 percent in 2017-18 and 72 percent in 2018-19 (up to April 19) so far. However, former Railways minister and member committee Khawaja Saad Rafique objected to the figures, saying that figures have been massively manipulated with respect to punctuality as well as income of 10 new trains.
He said the Railways punctuality was 67 percent in 2016-17 and 76 percent in 2017-18, which was given just two days before in written by the ministry, but the official is showing it otherwise. Additionally, according to one document, 10 new trains have generated Rs 970 million profits, but as per another document of the Railways Ministry, these trains have incurred Rs 167 million losses so far.
Rafique said that Pakistan Railways has suffered losses of Rs 29 billion in eight months and these would further increase by the end of current fiscal year. "When we left the Railways, deficit was Rs 36.5 billion," said Rafique, adding that they do not want to put the Railways in reverse gear.
Secretary Railways Sikandar Sultan Raja presented his apology before the committee and assured that strict inquiry would be conducted into the matter. The committee was further informed that creating around 10,000 new jobs would put a financial burden of Rs 2.5 billion on the national exchequer in terms of salaries and pension per annum.
The committee objected to proposed new recruitments where PTI MNA Amjad Ali Khan alleged that Rs 250,000-300,000 are being demanded as bribe for job, and recommended that only necessary recruitments should be made to avoid burden on the railways. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Railways Aftab Akbar said that the recruitment process has been delayed intentionally, adding that it would be ensured that only essential positions are filled.
The secretary Railways also admitted the news about use of money in the recruitment process, saying that transparency would be ensured at any cost. Expressing serious concern over delay in start of project, namely up-gradation of Main Line (ML-1), under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Rafique said that over one year is being spent only on preliminary design.
The Railways officials informed the committee that declaration of completion of preliminary design phase-1 regarding up-gradation of ML-1 and establishment of Havelian Dry Port under the CPEC was signed between the government of Pakistan and China on April 28, 2019 during the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China.
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