Pakistan Railways suffered Rs 28.62 billion deficit during the first eight months of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, while six out of 10 newly launched trains are going in loss. This was revealed by the railways officials while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways where Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed indicated that fares would be increased after Eid to meet unexpected expenditures.
The committee met with Muhammad Mueen Wattoo in the chair to discuss fiscal situation of the Pakistan Railways, targets and deficit, benefit cost ratio of newly-launched passenger trains, and methodology of feasibility studies for launching new trains.
While presenting the eight months report which exposed the tall claims of railways minister, the committee was informed that railways generated Rs 43 billion during the first eight months against the expenditure of Rs 72 billion.
Former railways minister Saad Rafique said that by reviewing the new trains, it would be unearthed that all newly launched 10 trains are going in deficit. The railway minister said that of the 10 new launched trains, only two are facing loss including Dabhai G and Rohi trains.
However, railways officials while sharing benefit cost ratio of newly-launched passenger trains revealed that out of 10 new trains, six are running under loss including Dhabai G, Shah Latif Express, Mohenjodaro Express, Rohi Passenger, Thal Mianwali Express, Faisalabad Non Stop and Rawalpindi Express trains.
The director general technical briefed about the fiscal situation of the Pakistan Railways for the first six months of the current government. The Pakistan Railways earned revenue amounting to Rs 25,035.711 million (2018-19) mainly from passenger trains in comparison to Rs 23,098.618 million (2017-18) registering an encouraging rising trend of Rs 1,937.093 million. Despite increase in expenditure on account of pay (Rs 1.207 billion), pension (Rs 0.468 billion) and fuel (Rs 2.729 billion), the deficit of Pakistan Railways has decreased by Rs 0.059 billion (0.24%).
The railways minister informed the committee that oil prices have been increased in the international market, putting additional financial burden on the Pakistan Railways; however, the railways fare has not been increased presently. To meet the unexpected expenditures, the fares for AC class are likely to be enhanced after the Eid. It was also informed that private sector has shown interest in acquiring passenger trains. The passenger trains' business is profitable while the Pakistan Railways is facing problems in freight business.
Existing railways stock has been utilised for these trains. New passenger trains have been introduced on such sections as per demand in order to protect the assets of the railways and facilitate the public at large by connecting various regions/provinces utilising existing infrastructure, rolling stock, crew and employees.
Sheikh Rashid and Khawaja Saad Rafique also came face-to-face and heated words were exchanged between the two. "We launched 26 new trains and saved 1.7 million litres of fuel," remarked Rashid. Rafique responded that they launched new trains after coming into power. "Please tell us about the feasibility of all."
Rashid said that it seems as if Rafique is the only one who will ask all the questions. "You may ask all the questions if that's what you want to do." Rafique questioned if Rasheed will answer responsibly to the question regarding his income.
He then went ahead to criticise the decision to start the Dhabeji Express, which took people from Karachi to Dhabeji. "Officers already knew that Dhabeji Express would fail," he said. "Only 22 people are using it. They shouldn't have started it in the first phase," he added. Later speaking to the media persons, the railways minister asked former President Asif Ali Zardari to look towards Larkana, saying he has turned the province, where his party is in power, into "Aidstan."
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