Railways, Maple Leaf Cement sign MoU

Pakistan Railway and Maple Leaf Cement has inked a MoU for the transportation of coal for a period of three years which will bring revenue of Rs 1.2 billion per year, said Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed here on Monday. The Minister was talking to media after inaugurating a new train 119/Up-120/Down non-stop between Lahore and Faisalabad at Lahore Railway Station on Monday morning.
The new non-stop train consists of air-conditioned and economy coaches. It will leave Lahore at 8am and reach Faisalabad at 10am. In the afternoon, the train will leave Faisalabad at 2:30pm and reach Lahore at 4:30pm. The fare of economy class is 190 rupees, AC standard is 400 rupees and AC parlor class fare is 500 rupees.
Later while addressing a press conference at railways headquarters, he said, "Pakistan railways has inked a MoU with Maple Leaf for transportation of coal for a period of three years. It will earn 1.2 billion rupees per annual," he added. "We have planned to start 110 new trains within 100 days," the Minister claimed.
He said Pakistan Railways has launched three new passenger trains in a record period of one month. The third train "Faisalabad Non-Stop" departed as per schedule and reached Faisalabad in exactly 2 Hours on Monday. "We intend to expand our services to 70 million passengers.
In response to a question regarding freight trains, he said: "We would increase the number of freight trains from 10 to 12." In response to another question about Khushal Khan Khattak Express accident, he said he had ordered suspension of AME Peshawar & Deputy CME Carriage & Wagon till conclusion of inquiry report. He has warned that divisional superintendents, who ignored track maintenance, shall also be suspended. "Every DS shall be responsible for the safety of track in the division under his jurisdiction and punitive action would be taken against officers not performing their duties sincerely."
Talking about outstanding dues, the Minister requested the government and non-government departments to clear their outstanding dues against Railways within a period of one week He also issued direction to improve the condition of Mohenjo-Daro Express Track on priority basis. Rohi Express and Mohenjo-Daro Express shall be launched from 16th October which shall be operated by Railways on trial basis for a period of three months. After this period, a tender shall be issued to hand over both trains to private sector on public private partnership. At the same time, Tez Gaam train will be restored to its old splendor in order to minimize loss, he further added.
He also issued directions for analyzing under-capacity trains and economy class fares, and providing much cheaper traveling facilities to passengers. Besides, he also passed instructions to study Karachi Hyderabad shuttle train service. He said that imported instruments would be installed in the trains in the season of fog and mist. It would increase the visibility percentage during winter and fogy season.
The Minister claimed that Railways has full support of overseas Pakistanis. He said a tender would be issued to invite private organizations so that they could use Railways premises for their publicity and advertisements. Industrial zones will be developed with every upscale station to boost revenue for Railways.
Regarding pilferage in oil depots, the Minister said that he had ordered for special audit of Peshawar, Kundian, Rawalpindi, Lala Musa, Lahore-Faisalabad, Rohri, Karachi, Mirpur Khas, Kotri, Quetta, Sibbi, Multan, Sama Satta & Khanewal oil depots.