Rs 6.1bn arranged for railways from banks

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour informed the Senate that Finance Ministry arranged Rs.6.1 billion from banks to ameliorate financial condition of Pakistan Railways.

Responding during the question hour, the Minister said that Pakistan Railways has also been provided credit line for supply of fuel from Pakistan State Oil (PSO). He said that Pakistan Railways is buying High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil from PSO.

Bilour said that 20 locomotives have been rehabilitated and all possible efforts are being made to rehabilitate the remaining during the ongoing fiscal year as well. He said more locomotives are required to keep the railways operational.

Responding to a question of Muttahida Qumi Movement Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said that economic situation is forcing people to put their lives at risk despite all steps taken by the government against human trafficking.

The Minister said that Pakistan and Iran have made their forces at joint border more vigilant and trilateral cooperation between Pakistan-Iran-Turkey and Pak-Turkey-Greece has also been forged against the growing trend of human trafficking. The Minister said this trend has been going on for the last three decades and the major reason forcing people to put their lives at risk is unemployment in the country. The Minister said that various groups from Gujrat are involved in human trafficking. The Minister also agreed to the proposal that there should be a rehabilitation scheme for the people who become financial victims at the hand of the human traffickers at home but continue to be looted abroad as well. Rehman Malik said that he would take up the matter with Overseas Pakistan Foundation (OPF) to explore the possibilities for rehabilitation scheme.

Replying to another question, he said that a project was initiated at the Ministry of Interior to develop software for registration of computerised First Information Report (FIR) at Police Stations. He said that project has been implemented in 23 districts of the country and would also be extended to other parts in phases.  The Minister said that in the Federal Capital bilingual FIRs are available in English and Urdu.

Information Minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, in a written reply, said transmitter has been installed in the new premises of Radio Pakistan Turbat. She said since it is a 15-year-old transmitter, it may require modification and up-gradation. The Minister said the retesting of the transmitter's components has already been taken up, which will take two to three weeks.