'Railway to function as corporation from July'; Rs 42 billion projects under way

Minister of State for Railways, Muhammad Ishaq Khakwani rejected the impression of retrenchment of workforce in future and said that now the railway had become a profit-oriented organisation. In fact the organisation was running in losses for several years in the past but now the situation had been changed and no drive of downsizing of staff was being initiated, the minister described. He was talking to newsmen on Thursday night after inauguration of attaching an air-conditioned bogey with Tezgam train.
The Minister said that the Railway would be turned into corporation from July Ist, 2005, however, concession in rail-fare for journalists, students and armed forces would continue as usual.
He said that railway was being upgraded with an expenditure of Rs 42 billion and in this connection a number of development projects had been under way.
Giving details, he said that first class (Sleeper) bogies would be turned into lower-AC with an expenditure of Rs 2,140 million and ensured that quota for Multan travellers would be increased in it.
He further said that clean drinking water would be provided on 46 selected railway stations. He assured that rail fare would not be enhanced if the oil prices remained unchanged. He said that there were 93,000 employees in railway organisation while its pensioners had swelled to 120,000.
The Minister said that locomotive dispute with Chinese company had resolved and it had suspended the supply of more locomotives while ten locomotive, which went faulty were repaired. Besides, he said that warranty for the locomotive had been increased from 1.5 to 5 years.