RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has said that all out efforts are being made to improve performance and efficiency of Pakistan Railways (PR) and to make it a profit earning organization.
Talking to APP he said that locomotives that were not in running condition, are being locally repaired and overhauled at Central Diesel Locomotive (CDL) workshop at a cost of millions of rupees by utilizing Pakistan Railways own resources and manpower.
There are over 12000 parts in a locomotive, he said adding local and imported spare parts were used to overhaul rail engines.
At present, he said, Pakistan Railways have total 148 locomotives which are in running condition but Indian Railways have 8300 locomotives then how one can compare Indian Railways with Pakistan Railways.
To a question the Minister said most of the railway fleet including passenger coaches, freight wagons and locomotives are outdated and Pakistan Railways need a massive funding for restructuring.
To another question the Minister said that last three years were very difficult for Pakistan Railways but now things have started changing and the affairs of Pakistan Railways would notice positive changes.
Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that had the bailout package been released on time, the situation would have been much better and the deficit would also have been much less.
He said if the bailout package amounting to Rs 11.5 billion was given to Pakistan Railways by the government during 2010 then the circumstances of Railways remained under control.
Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that there are total 85,000 employees of Pakistan Railways with over 140,000 pensioners.
The Minister said, "I have been facing criticism by certain elements that I am running a transport company with 500 coasters but he categorically dispelled it saying neither I, nor any of my family member run a transport company."
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