Punctuality of 20 passenger trains reaches 90pc

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed here on Thursday said that punctuality of top 20 passenger trains of Pakistan Railways reached 90 percent while of some trains was around 79 percent.

During the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Railways at Parliament House, the minister said that passengers prefer to travel in railways due to the punctuality of trains.

The Committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Junejo and the meeting was attended by Senators Kulsoom Parveen, Khanzada Khan, Gianchand, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Brig (R) John Kenneth Williams, Qurat ul Ain Marri, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Railways.

The Minister said that new passenger train Rahman Baba will be launched on December 23 and installation of tracking system will also be functional on December 25.

“Pakistan Railways has started ten new passenger trains in the first 100 days of the government due to the untiring efforts of the employees,” he added.

Sheikh Rashid said keeping in view the efforts of railway employees, he had requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to grant up-gradation to the employees.

“Pakistan Railways has earned Rs 100 million by selling of tickets in a day,” adding that two new freight trains will also be started by the first week of January for generating more revenue.

The minister said that Pakistan Railways has generated Rs two billion more revenue as compared to last three months of the year.

He said only 7 to 12 percent fares were increased for the passenger trains.

He said that Pakistan Railways will add two new freight trains and the first will be inaugurated on December 25 and the second in the first week of January.

Sheikh Rashid said that all the Divisional Superintendents have been directed to take steps to keep students safe in schools and playing ground along the railway tracks.

He said that Pakistan Railways bore a loss of Rs 2 billion by removal of billboards on the directives of Supreme Court as value of one board was Rs 1.4 million.

The minister said that present government had sent three cases of Pakistan Railways to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in first 100 days.

“Pakistan Railways is going to build a modern Railway Station in Rohri, Sindh soon, adding that a Shopping Mall will also be developed along the station,” he added.

Asad Ali Junejo directed the officials of the Ministry of Railways to provide detailed report regarding the punctuality of passenger and freight trains.

He was of the view that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was reflective of the friendship of two countries and the project should not be disrupted in any way.

Sheik Rashid said that CPEC was brainchild of China and priority will be given to the Chinese government in this regard.

The committee was briefed about the accidents that occurred on the railway network during the year 2017- 2018 and unmanned level crossings across the country.