Signalling system upgradation, railway tracks dualisation: feasibility studies submitted to ADB and Japan

The government has submitted the feasibility studies to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese government to seek funds for upgradation of signalling system and dualisation/rehabilitation of railway tracks.
The ministry has also decided to shift railway board to Lahore, after getting approval of the Cabinet and the National Assembly. Railways Secretary and Chairman Malik Asif Hayat stated this, while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday.
He gave details of different projects for which feasibility studies were in hand. These included signalling system from Rawalpindi to Karachi, dualisation of railway track from Lodhran to Lahore and rehabilitation of 140km track from Karachi to Hyderabad.
The railways chairman said that the railways also needed locomotives, coaches and wagons to improve the service. He said China is a better option to buy these wagons due to good quality and low price. Asif Hayat said that in the past, the ADB had never provided loan to railways.
Last week a Japanese delegation held a meeting in the Railways Ministry and showed willingness to finance plan for upgradation of railway system.
The ministry has submitted feasibility studies to the ADB and the Government of Japan for making funds available for the projects.
The chairman hoped that these loans would be finalised in January-February 2005. When asked about the track to Central Asia, he said that laying of track from Chaman to Kandahar was hindering the plan due to political instability in Afghanistan.
The track from Quetta to Zahidan was already there, but not up to the international standards. He also said that Pakistan is in contact with the Iranian government to rehabilitate the track.