Nothing is working for turning Pakistan Railways into a profit-making entity since its revival scheme is heading towards financial and economical disaster.
Credible sources in the Ministry of Railways believe that nothing was auguring well as the liabilities of Pakistan Railways stand at Rs 54.824 billion till March 2007.
Pakistan Railways-one of the major sources of communication-has been confronting with host of difficulties whether it is shortage of locomotives or multiplying losses due to 'uneconomical' trains. Till this March, the total operating expenditure of Pakistan Railways has gone to Rs 15.927 billion whereas the revenue stands at Rs 14.533 billion.
The authorities received subsidy worth Rs 6.367 billion in 2006-07 while the G.P Fund liability is around Rs 2.704 billion.
Sources told this correspondent that Pakistan Railways suffered a net loss of Rs 6.375 billion due to nearly 215 uneconomical trains.
These uneconomical trains include 17 Mail and Express trains causing loss of Rs 2.224 billion, 61 intercity trains resulting in loss of Rs 1.843 billion whereas there are around 137 passenger and mixed trains that incurred loss of Rs 2.308 billion.
Pakistan Railways is already in dire need of Rs 30 billion for the replacement of old signaling system, rehabilitation of tracks and maintenance of bridges on main lines.
On the other hand, there are some four approved projects, which await financing of more than Rs 30 billion as well. These include procurement and manufacturing of 75 new diesel locomotives and 150 passenger coaches worth Rs 18.68 billion, modernisation of signaling from Khanewal to Shahdrabagh, Lahore at an estimated cost of Rs 4.18 billion and doubling of some 246 kilometer track from Khanewal to Raiwind with projected cost of Rs 7.68 billion.
It is further learnt that the authorities have worked out as many as 15 sections that they believe were merely loss-making sections. These sections including Quetta-Chaman, Quetta-Taftan, Sibi-Khost, Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas-Khokhrapar, Hyderabad-Badin, Samasatta-Chistian-Bahawalnagar, Mirpurkhas-Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas-Pithoro (via loop), Larkana-Jacobabad (via Silra Shadad Kot), Lahore-Shorkot (via Jaranwala), Narowal-Chak Amru, Lahore-Jallo-Wagha, Malakwal-Bhera, Malakwal-Gharibwal and Malakwal-Pind Dadan Khan.
There is pathetic condition of vital assets of Pakistan Railways. It is heartening to learn that 50 percent of the rail track is in dilapidated condition while 80 percent of the bridges and culverts were over aged.
Locomotives present bleak picture, as 19 electric locomotives' designed life is of 25 years and are completely over aged. There are 512 diesel electric locomotives out of which 54 percent are over aged.
Out of rolling stock, 30 percent passenger coaches have gone pass their designed life whereas 90 percent telecom and signaling stuff is obsolete and outdated. Furthermore, workshop machinery is mostly obsolescent.
It is reliably learnt that Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has recently requested Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that the loss caused due to un-economical routes maintained on purely socio-economic consideration may be picked by the federal government in the shape of Public Service Obligation (PSO).
Moreover, the pension liability, which is more than 3.5 billion per annum may be picked by the federal government as being done in case of other government departments. He has requested that the G.P Fund should also be taken over the federal government.
However, the figures reveal that government's vision to provide a modern, economical, safer and efficient transportation facility to passengers seems to be a daunting task and may result into yet another hollow claim.