Bostan-Zhob railway track project in the doldrums

Conversion of Bostan-Zhob railway track from narrow to broad-gauge is in doldrums due to non-availability of funds. Well-placed sources in Ministry of Railways told Business Recorder that three years back Pakistan Railways started paper work on the project to convert the narrow-gauge Bostan-Zhob railway track into broad-gauge.
The conversion of track from narrow to broad gauge would have helped Pakistan Railways in attracting more passengers and earning more revenue to decrease the deficit, which has reached to Rs 31 billion, they added. Pakistan Railways was planning to further extend the conversion project encompassing D.I. Khan, Bannu, Kohat and Peshawar, but after passage of three years no practical step has been taken to initiate work on this project, sources maintained.
Sources said that main reason for delay in execution of this project was lack of funds. Pakistan Railways tried its level best to arrange funds from the government or private investors, but has not attracted required investment so far. Pakistan Railways still suffer due to a mixture of gauges, 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and 1,000 mm (2 ft 6 in). The government of Pakistan and the Railways Ministry assured time and again that the problem would be tackled by converting the narrow gauge lines to broad gauge, but nothing practical has been done.
It is pertinent to note that in May 2006, Ministry of Railways announced that tracks between Gwadar and Quetta will be laid, while Bostan-Zhob narrow-gauge railway line will be converted into broad gauge within one year at a cost of $1.25 billion (Rs 75 billion).
Former president Pervez Musharraf had announced various initiatives to revolutionise the railway network in the country and make the organisation viable and profitable. He announced that government would start work on projects to increase trains speed, install double track and to convert the country's railways to standard gauge along with establishing direct rail link with China. December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. While former Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid also announced the conversion of 295-km Bostan-Zhob railway section to broad gauge.
Developed countries are mostly using standard gauge tracks having width of four feet and six inches whereas the Pakistan Railways is still using mostly "narrow gauge" railway tracks, the most commonly found in Indo-Pak sub-continent. Pakistan Railways is also using 100 years old signal system, which is main cause of delay in arrival and departure of trains, besides railway accidents.