Federal Minister for Railways Mian Shamim Haider has hoped that Pakistan Railways would achieve the earning target of Rs 18 billion fixed by the federal government for the current fiscal year. Talking to newsman on the occasion of arrival of first Rawalpindi bound Eid Special Train from Karachi, the minister said that railways is performing well for the last five years and its financial condition is much better as compared to the 90s.
High railway officials including General Manager Aurangzeb Khan, AGM Freight Khawaja Nazir Ahmed were also present on the occasion.
The minister also talked to the passengers of the train, most of whom expressed satisfaction over the facilities provided to them and thanked railways for running special trains to cater Eid rush. However, some of them complained about the scarcity of water in the train and poor cleanliness condition upon which the minister directed railway officials to take immediate steps to redress genuine grievances of the passengers.
The minister told newsmen that the railways earning till the year 2000 was below Rs 10 billion which have gradually increased by crossing the mark of Rs 14 billion last year.
Shamim Haider said, "Earnings during the first three months both from passenger and freight have been more than the target fixed for the period on the basis of which it can be said that target of Rs 18 billion fixed for the current fiscal would be achieved."
To a question, the minister said provision of grant as public service obligation to railways was stopped by the government way back in 1995. However, he said railways continues to operate trains on some routes which are financially not viable with a view to facilitate the masses. In some areas where water is not available, railways is running trains for taking water to the people.
To a question about State Bank's overdraft, the minister said that Pakistan Railways paid Rs 5.50 billion in this connection during the last four years.
When asked about railways plan to provide better service to the people, Shamim Haider said that during the last four years Pakistan railways have press into service 10 new trains comprising most modern coaches imported from China. "All these trains also include AC coaches that are of high standard," he said.
He said that after importing some coaches and locomotives from China, these are now being manufactured in Carriage Factory Islamabad, which cost railways 20 to 25 percent less than the imported coaches and engines.
To a question about reports of faults in locomotives imported from China, he said, "Initially we faced some problems as we have broad gauge, while almost all other countries of the world have either, standard, metre or narrow gauge. However, this problem has been overcome with locomotives running 35,000 km without any problem while efforts are on to achieve the internally accepted standard of 50 to 60 thousand kilometres."
It may be mentioned that Pakistan railways has planned to run 43 pre-Eid Special Trains between different cities across the country to facilitate people in reaching their destinations on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.