Senate body directs PR to complete Karachi, Sukkur project before 2017

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways on Friday directed the authorities of Pakistan Railways (PR) to complete Karachi-Sukkur circular railway project before 2017.

The Senate Committee met here under the chairmanship of Maulana Gull Naseeb Khan. Members of the committee Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada and Suriya Amiruddin were also present in the meeting.

The committee also directed to resume the operations of Mehran Express train which run from Karachi to Mirpurkhas, the train was suspended on December 27, 2007.

Senator Naseeb suggested ways to improve and modernise PR and asked the officials to come up with a comprehensive approach to improve operational efficiency and financial viability.

The committee urged the officials to repair the locomotives with expertise from within Pakistan. The committee also pressed for a "time frame" for the rehabilitation of PR, expressing hope for it to be an independent organisation.

Senator Suriya Amiruddin said railway is major source of country's transportation, which needs attention so that passenger and freight trains could be made functional.

Director General Operations Aftab Akbar briefed the senators about the operations of the workshop where around 20 locomotives are maintained on a daily basis.

He said there is a shed where major problems of the locomotives are repaired.

He said that 45 locomotives were prepared during the last three months and out of 494 locomotives 152 locomotives are on the tracks and added that eight goods trains and 100 passenger trains are operating in the country.

He said PR earned Rs.946 million through freights and Rs.6262 million through passenger trains during the current financial year. He added that PR currently facing Rupees three billion budget over draft and Rs.40 billion loan from different financial consortiums.

He said that Shaheen Express Train operating between Sialkot and Karachi soon will be launched on the basis of Public Private Partnership.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012