Private parties will be invited to run train services: Rashid

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday expressed his resolve to pull the Pakistan Railways (PR) out of deficit and make it a profit-earning organisation in one year.
He told a news conference after assuming his new responsibilities that numerous projects aimed at improving the financial health of the country's key public sector organisation would be implemented. Rashid said the Pakistan Railways would soon offer rails for utilisation by private sector enterprises. "Private parties will be invited to run train services for passengers in collaboration with the Pakistan Railways," he added.
The Pakistan Railway (PR) would soon be undertaking mega projects to boost its commercial viability, the minister said.
He said one-month target has been set for the PR officers and staff to improve their performance and those who failed to do so by the deadline would be taken to task. "All-out efforts would be made to provide best on board services to passengers."
Besides undertaking surprise raids to check the rolling as well as the infrastructure stocks, the performance and the operation of trains would be continuously monitored by him personally, he said.
"From today onward all - the trains will run according to schedule and infringers would be duly asked to give credible reasons."
Sheikh Rashid said directions have been issued not to undertake imports from now onward of such machinery and equipment, which could be indigenously developed. However, he added, those memorandum of understandings and agreements with other countries which were undertaken earlier would be honoured.
Referring to the decisions taken at the meeting he held with the senior officers of the ministry, he said it was decided to expedite work on the modernisation of signalling system, rehabilitation of rolling stock and railway tracks and infrastructure.
He said the meeting also decided to maintain strict security for trains by adopting various methods, besides engaging security personnel from the private security agencies and mobilising railway police at the 11,000 km long railway track network.
Rashid said a meeting to review the security arrangements thoroughly would be held on Tuesday where measures for the improvement of freight trains would also be considered.
He said, a meeting would be held on Thursday, to exclusively discuss the modernisation of signalling system.