ISLAMABAD: The government has earmarked Rs42 billion grant for Pakistan Railways to meet the losses. According to budget 2021-22 document, the government allocated Rs40 billion grants in 2020-21 for the Railways Division to meet the losses which for the FY 2021-22 is increased to 42 billion.

The government has earmarked Rs30.005 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2021-22 for various projects of Railways division against an estimated cost of Rs1.31 trillion.

According to the PSDP document of 2021-22, the PR has estimated Rs163.2 billion expenditures for the completion of various ongoing projects but the government only earmarked Rs21.75 billion.

The PR estimated the cost of new schemes at Rs1.15 trillion but the government earmarked just Rs8.27 billion.

Under ongoing schemes, the government earmarked Rs 8 billion for procurement / manufacturing of 820 high-capacity bogie freight wagons and 230 passenger coaches against an estimated cost of Rs31.2 billion.

Rs961 million earmarked for re-commissioning of five accidental diesel electric locomotives against an estimated cost of Rs1.26 billion.

Rs500 million earmarked for preliminary design / drawing for upgrade of mainline (ML-1) and establishment of dry port near Havelian under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and hiring of design/drawing vetting consultants against an estimated cost of Rs10.6 billion.

Rs200 million earmarked for procurement of 72 diesel electric locomotives (55 of them 4,000 - 4,500 HP and 20 of them 2,000-2,500 HP) against an estimated cost of Rs45.5 billion.

Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of damaged assets during 2010 floods against an estimated cost of Rs9.6 billion.

Rs 500 million for rehabilitation of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and rail connectivity against an estimated cost of Rs1.8 billion.

Rs 2 billion for repairing of 100 diesel and electric locomotives against an estimated cost of Rs8 billion.

Rs 1 billion for repairing 600 passenger coaches and 1,200 bogie wagons against an estimated cost of Rs2.7 billion.

For under taking new schemes during 2021-22, Pakistan Railways estimated a cost of Rs1.46 trillion but the government only earmarked Rs8.27 billion.

The government has earmarked just Rs6 billion for upgrade of Pakistan Railways existing Main-Line (ML-1) and establishment of dry port near Havelian (2018-22) phase-1 of the CPEC against an estimated cost of Rs1.12 trillion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021