ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq on Wednesday informed the Senate that efforts were being made to introduce Railway engineering diplomas and degrees in educational institutes for achieving self-efficiency in this important sector of the communication.
During the question-Hour, he said there were no regular specified training courses for the Railway employees abroad, however, on basis of regional cooperation, some sponsored courses were offered from time to time.
From next year, he said, the Ministry was considering to send technical staff abroad training on its own expenses so that the required skills could be attained.
The present government, he said, had now targeted up-gradation of 21 railway stations at a cost of Rs.1956 million during next three years. "Modernization and beautification of the stations will be exemplary," he added.
The government, he said, was utilizing all available resources to make the Pakistan Railways a modern and reliable mean of traveling.
Replying to a question, Saad said the annual production capacity of Railways Carriage Factory Islamabad was 120 coaches, adding that during last two years 225 passenger coaches were produced/rehabilitated in the factory.
The Pakistan Railways, he said, had brought a paradigm shift in the policy of the procurement of rolling stock discouraging import as completely built units (CBU) to indigenous manufacturing. Elaborating, he said, in future bulk of rolling stock would be manufactured locally in the Pakistan Railway's own carriage factory.
Accordingly, he adedd, a PC-I, for procurement/manufacturing of 250 coaches was under approval in the Planning Commission, out of which 186 coaches would be manufactured in the Islamabad Carriage Factory.
Similarly, he said, a tender for procurement of 800 high capacity hopper wagons was in progress, out of which 595 wagons would be manufactured in the factory.
To another question, the Minister said Rs 160.519 million were allocated for repair and renovation of railway stations in the country during last the eight- year.
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