The federal government has released one billion rupees to the Ministry of Railways, which will enable the department to pay the salaries and pension of its staff. This was announced by Federal Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
He said that shortage of locomotives to run freight trains had multiplied the crisis of Railways due to which it was unable to pay the salaries and pension to its employees. Only six engines are in order to run the goods trains, he said adding that at least 400 engines are required to run the system properly.
He clarified that neither India had been asked to provide 50 engines nor the neighbouring country had declined to provide engines to Pakistan. Bilour said that he was willing to offer his resignation if anyone proves he was behind the Railways' problems.
The minister said the department required Rs 6 billion for the repairs and purchase of engines, Rs 4 billion for upgradation of signals, tracks and bridges and Rs 1 billion for diesel on emergency basis. He informed that President Zardari had ordered constitution of a committee comprising the representatives from public-private sector to put Railways back on track. The minister said that Pakistan Railways' revenue had been on the decline for the last three years. It was Rs 22 billion in 2009, Rs 18 billion in 2010 and Rs 12 billion is estimated for the current fiscal year.
"It seems difficult in current situation to achieve the estimated Rs 12 billion revenue target for the current fiscal year," he remarked. Bilour informed that under the public-private partnership, a special train would be launched from Lahore to Karachi and Karachi to Lahore by the end of this year, while under another agreement Shalimar would also start operation next year.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.