Karachi Railway Division sets new record of freight, passenger earnings

While Karachi City contributes 65 percent revenue to federal exchequer, the Karachi Railway Division contributes 40 percent revenue while other six railway divisions contribute 60 percent.
During fiscal 2008-09, Karachi Railway Division earned all time record revenue of Rs 8665.562 million as compared to previous record of Rs 7238,454 million during financial year 2007-08 - higher by Rs1424.634 million or 16.45 percent.
The Railway division set this record notwithstanding the fact that its infrastructure was totally destroyed last year in the backlash to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi and totally disrupted cargo and passenger train operations.
According to the data available from Karachi Railway Division, the freight sector earned Rs 4843.509 million with a loading of 172,622 wagons - again a record - during 2008-09 as compared to earnings of Rs 3897.464 million with a loading of 169,637 wagons - thus registering an increase of 24 percent.
This speaks about the increasing trading activity from Karachi despite economic problems faced by the present government. The freight sector not only achieved the target but surpassed it by Rs 193.580 million, Divisional authorities told APP.
The substantial increase of close to one billion rupees in freight sector was attributed to increased POL loading as well as improvement in the cargo train operation.
The officials said that Karachi Railway Division successfully revitalised the abandoned goods sheds and yards taking initiative for running of cargo specials from Karachi to Lahore, Karachi Port to Faisalabad and Coal trains from Wazir Mansion to upcountry destinations which contributed remarkably in achieving the highest every freight earning.
On the other side, in the passenger sector, Karachi Division registered an earning of Rs 3506.086 million as compared to Rs 3053.297 million earned last year.
This earning was up by Rs 452.789 million or 15 percent despite the damage caused to infrastructure and cancellation of trains on that account.