The government has abandoned, for the time being, the plan to make Pakistan Railways a corporation, as there were sharp differences among its top brass over the proposed plan.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the officials had put aside the plan to corporatize the railways, for the time being, due to seething differences among the bureaucracy.
Railways Minister Rashid Ahmed, while chairing an in-house meeting soon after taking charge, also did not show any ''interest'' to implement the proposed plan, it is learnt.
Former Railways Minister Shamim Haider had repeatedly announced that the government would convert the railways into a state-run corporation by July, 2005 to overcome the losses and to enhance its profitability. However, his deputy at that time, Ishaq Khan Khakwani, had publicly expressed dissent over the issue.
"We had completed the homework and a Pakistan Railways Corporation Act, 2005 had also been finalised, but unfortunately everything seems to be in limbo," an official privy to the development told this correspondent.
The officials have failed to come out with the final draft of Pakistan Railways Corporation Act, 2005 that had to be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
"Mian Shamim was eager to finalise the draft, which he had announced to present before the Parliament before June 30 but now it has become even more difficult, especially after reshuffling the Cabinet," he added.
Besides differences among the top hierarchy, the official said, the government could not afford inviting private sector into railways that is a strategic public asset and assists in military movement.
Keeping this factor in mind, he said, the officials were reluctant to proceed further.
Moreover, Railways Minister Rashid has also asked the officials to allow private sector only in the freight service. He has directed not to sell any railways asset, like land, for the sake of earning money.
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