Pakistan Railways losses have increased by 278 percent during last two years, going up from Rs 5.326 billion in 2007-08 to Rs 20.152 billion in 2009-10, according to the Ministry of Railways. Ministry of Railways informed the National Assembly in a written reply that it suffered Rs 10.125 billion losses during first six months of current fiscal year.
According to details, ordinary working expenses of Pakistan Railways increased from Rs 9.130 billion in 2008-09 to Rs 29.696 billion in 2009-10 and stood at Rs 13.244 billion during July-December 2010-11. The minister stated that steps are being taken to control the losses by making trains operation cost oriented and to this effect 13 loss-making trains have been closed and further analysis is under way to save revenue. Efforts are on to control fuel losses during trains operation.
Administrative expenses have been cut down to bare minimum and due to rise in prices of fuel, pay and pension of employee, passenger fare and freight charges structure has been rationalised from 01-02-2011. Punctuality of trains is being ensured strictly and principal officers meetings are held weekly to review the punctuality, frequently.
As doubling of track from Lodhran to Sahiwal 254.33kms has been completed and from Sahiwal to Raiwind (Lahore-Sahiwal section) work is in progress, it will improve punctuality. About 100 economy class coaches rehabilitated and 690 coaches have been converted while 175 new coaches have been imported and inducted in the mail and 7 express trains to strengthen resources to cope with the new demand of the travelling public.
He said 41 stations have been computerised for ticketing and online reservation and first class sleeper coaches replaced with 124 air conditioned lower coaches and attached with various trains to cater for the passengers during summer. The minister said efforts are being made to sign an agreement with private parties under public private partnership for running trains with their own locomotives and freight wagons under track access policy. Moreover, high speed and high capacity wagons are being inducted and terminal facilities are being improved for fast loading and unloading.
He said various projects have been initiated to boost freight revenue and priority is being given to freight trains. An agreement has been signed with M/s Tuwairqi Steel Mills to transport one million tons per annum of iron ore from Nokundi to Bin Qasim station and for 2000 to 3000 tonnes per day of finished steel products to upcountry.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.