PR debt touches to Rs.58,603.363mn: NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Monday informed the National Assembly that the total debt on Pakistan Railways (PR) was recorded as Rs.58,603.363 million till January while its total loss has touched to Rs.34,037.322 million so far.

Replying to a question during Question Hour, he said that acute shortage of locomotives was main reason of loss, resulting complete closure of freight service which was considered a key source for revenue generation.

The Minister said that now new locomotives had been purchased since March 2008 and at present only 180 locomotives were functioning. To another question, Bilour apprised the House that an amount of Rs.253 million had been spent on repair and renovation of seven railways stations during the said period.

Giving the break up, he said that a sum of Rs. 44.049 million was spent on Karachi railways station, Rs.7.983 million on Quetta station, Rs.93.231 million on Sukkur station, Rs.35.679 million on Multan station, Rs.64.087 million on Lahore station, Rs.5.378 million on Rawalpindi station and Rs.2.600 million on Peshawar station.