The Federal Railways Minister has vowed that Pakistan Railways will surpass its revenue target of Rs 32 billion, assigned by the federal government to it for 2015-16, just as it achieved (Rs 28 billion target) for 2014-15 and earned up to Rs 31.92 billion.
Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, giving a two-year performance review to the media on Thursday, said he hoped the rails that year would easily achieve Rs 38 billion revenue against the budgetary target of Rs 32 billion. He claimed that in 2012-13, the income was only up to Rs 18 billion which then increased to Rs 23 billion in 2013-14 and to Rs 31.92 billion in 2014-15.
The minister also disclosed that the deficit fell to Rs 27.25 billion during the last financial year but made it clear that he would be discussing the implementation on a project of taking the ECO train up to Turkey during his visit to that country. He said freight train had already been launched in the Quetta-to-Zahidan (Iran) sector while his rails were ready to take it to Turkey.
He claimed a feasibility study of laying track from Peshawar to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) would be completed during the current financial year, while PC-I to lay track from Chaman (Pakistan) to Spin Boldak (Afghanistan) had also been approved. "This line will make possible the rail contact from Quetta to Qandhar and Turkmenistan," he added.
He went on, "Pakistan Railways is also reviewing the possibility of initiating a freight train from Khokharapar to Monabao (India) where a passenger service is already underway. We are also expecting to complete feasibility study of upgradation and modernisation of the Karachi-Peshawar main line under the Pak-China Economic Corridor project and have a desire to invite investors on BOT basis for the main lines 2 and 3. The trains will start running on a double line from Lahore to Karachi by December this year."
He said an agreement for buying 55 locomotives of 4,000 and 4,500 horsepower had been reached with the American General Electric and that the repair of 73 bridges had been completed out of total 159 needing repair and rest would be repaired during the current financial year.
He went on to say the computerisation of rails land would be completed soon while work on issuance of e-ticket was underway. "In line with orders by the Supreme Court, title of 90 percent of the land situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa has been allotted in the name of the Railways while the Punjab government has earmarked Rs 570 million to the organisation to appoint gatemen at level crossings presently working without watchmen. He said KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak had also promised to provide Rs 150 million for the same purpose.
The minister disclosed that anti-terrorism training had been arranged for the Rails Police and recruitment of more assistant sub-inspectors and inspectors and that recruitment on 1,470 essential services would also be made. "There is a plan to introduce three new trains and the Railways also plan to privatise three more trains next year and develop Rails Legal Department and Information Technology section," he added.
Those attended the meeting were Rails Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Javed Anwer, Finance Member Ghulam Mustafa, Additional General Manager (Traffic) Maqsood ul Nabi, Railways Police Inspector General Munir Ahmad Chishti, Financial Adviser Doctor Muhammad Saeed.
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