Pakistan will ask China to include Main Line-II (ML-II) project along with the ML-I project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China. "I will accompany PM Khan during his visit to China where along with the finalization of ML-I project for implementation, we will ask China to include the up-gradation of ML-II as well in the CPEC framework," said Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed while talking to media persons after briefing a parliamentary panel here on Wednesday.
Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Railways, which met with Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo in the chair, the minister said that important decisions regarding the railways up-gradation would be taken in next 60 days. Currently on average 8-10 cargo trains operate on daily basis, which are going to be increased to 13 by offering incentives to private sector to increase revenue.
Rashid Ahmed admitted that work on other areas has been done, however track up-gradation was neglected and the incumbent government has decided to urge China for bringing ML-II project in the CPEC framework. "We are going to upgrade the track between Sukkur and Karachi as per the expectations of the people as we did not pay attention on tracks across the country in the past," the minister added.
He further said that Pakistan Railways is planning to launch new train named as Rehman Baba only for the low-income people of the country. Feasibility study of the new train is under process and it will be only economy class train that would meet the need of the poor people of the country, he added.
The minister said that Pakistan Railways is inviting private partners within three months to run the freight trains, adding any private party can run these trains on public private partnership that will increase the revenue for the organization.
He said that it is the vision of the present government to provide Wi-Fi and tracking system facility to the passengers within 100 days and Pakistan Railways will also provide these facilities in the freight trains.
Sheikh Rashid said that overseas Pakistanis are offering free of cost services for providing Wi-Fi and tracking facilities in passenger trains. He said that Pakistan Railways is offering free of cost tickets to over 75-year-old persons, 50 percent discount for over 65-year-old people and 25 percent discount to the disabled in passenger trains.
Asad Khan Junejo suggested that Pakistan Railways can provide mobile phone to the train divers with software so that all the trains should be tracked. He said if a taxi on road can be tracked then why a train cannot be tracked.
The minister assured the committee that Pakistan Railways will make all-out efforts to install tracking system in all trains shortly.
Managing Director Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS), Zubair Ghauri briefed the committee about the working and projects of the PRACS. He said that as many as 400 employees are working with PRACS and it is providing consultancy and advisory services to Pakistan Railways. He said that it is also responsibility of the PRACS to run special cultural trains.
The PRACS generated over Rs 706 million income during 2017-18 and is projected to increase it to over Rs 861 million by end 2018-19.
Later talking to media persons, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that initially Pakistan Railways will fill as many as 2,000 vacant posts of different cadres purely on merit.
The minister said that around 10,000 jobs will be given in Pakistan Railways to the people on merit. In first phase, the government has granted permission to the Ministry of Railways to fill the 2,031 vacant posts.
The minister also indicated for increasing fare while saying that most of the economy class would be upgraded to air conditioner with little increase in fare by next summer.
To a question, the minister said that private partners would be asked to come forward and take over the Golra Railway Station to convert it into a food street and picnic spot.
Sheikh Rashid said the project of e-ticketing, which was started 12-year ago by Pakistan Railways, is now selling around tickets of one million rupees per day.
The Senate Standing Committee on Railways meeting was also attended by Senators Gianchand, Saadia Abbasi and Imamuddin Shouqeen, Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Railways Aftab Akber and other senior officials of the Ministry of Railways.
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