Pakistan Railways (PR) is all set to take over the administration and properties of Royal Palm Golf and Country Club worth billions of rupees today. This was revealed by Secretary Railways Sikandar Sultan Raja while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways, which met here with MNA Muhammad Mueen Wattoo in the chair on Friday.
The Supreme Court had directed the PR to take over Royal Palm Golf and Country Club in seven days, said the CEO Pakistan Railways Aftab Akbar. The PR in consultation with different departments chalked out a plan and the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club would be taken over today (Saturday), he added.
The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) would determine about the outstanding amount between both the parties. Currently, the PR has taken over the security and nothing is being allowed to be brought outside the club.
The railways officials informed the committee that international consultant would be hired and later the club would be awarded through an open bidding and transparent way.
The committee was further informed that 74 railways accidents occurred during the last 12 months (2018-19) compared to 67 during the same period of 2017-18. The PR officials said during this period, the railways' operations also increased and remained 136 passenger trains per day in 2018-19 compared to 104 in 2017-18.
The committee was informed that out of 74 inquiries, 54 have been finalized and 20 are under process, adding punishment was awarded in the 13 cases, besides registering 34 first information reports (FIRs).
However, it was revealed before the committee that the PR has yet to come up with standard operation procedures (SOPS) for determining overall damages in accidents.
The committee was further informed that Rs 16 billion have been allocated to the Pakistan Railways under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2019-20 against the demand of Rs 28 billion. Former Railways minister and member of the committee MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique expressed concern while terming it meagre amount to meet the Railways demands. The committee was informed that Rs 28.065 billion were allocated for the railways for 2018-19 and Rs 23.259 were released whereas around Rs 21 billion have been utilised so far.
The Railways CEO said the government has assured that the Railways budget would be re-appropriated and increased if Main Line (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gets approval.
The committee was further informed that passenger train revenue (per annum) was Rs 24.40 billion in 2017-18 against total train variable cost (per annum) of Rs 17.87 billion, showing a difference of Rs 6.53 billion. However, the difference was increased to Rs 9.29 billion in 2018-19 as passenger train revenue (per annum) was Rs 28.21 billion against total train variable cost (per annum) of Rs 18.92 billion.
The committee was further informed that operating ratio of the Pakistan Railways for financial year 2018-19 was 98.22 compared to 98.4 in India whereas operating ratio for 2017-18 was 105.05 against 96.2 in India.
Saad Rafique expressed concerns over the increasing number of passenger trains, besides the use of locomotives procured for freight trains which are currently being used for passenger trains which is not wise with respect to revenue generation. The Railways officials said further launch of new trains has been put on hold.
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