Proposals are under consideration to decrease unnecessary stoppage and curtail the uneconomic trains, as Pakistan Railways is looking forward to overcome the financial crisis and to improve the Railways standards. Similarly, the number of trains is expected to be drop off on the holidays, reliable sources told Business Recorder on Saturday.
Sources further said that a meeting of the Executive Committee would be held on April 15 to discuss these recommendations that are expected to get a positive result. PR is facing a deficit of around about Rs 3.5 billion, which is going uphill day by day. Due to financial crunch, most of the ongoing projects are at stake. To triumph over these situations, Railways is taking several measures, sources revealed.
Sources further said that proposals are on track to curtail the uneconomical trains. Three trains, two from Faisalabad and one from Karachi may be stopped in this regard, they added.
As the numbers of the passengers remain low, therefore a proposal is under consideration to abandon the number of trains on the holidays, sources revealed. To upgrade the rail status, avoid unnecessary delay and to further increase the speed of the trains, proposals are under considerations to remove unnecessary stoppages on the railway tracks, sources added.
The economic and industrial development processes demand rapid as well as mass transportation of goods and raw materials. The more easily the passengers and goods get to the destination, the more rapid is the pace of development of the concerned country, sources added.
Furthermore, the transport and communication systems need continuous expansion and maintenance of the network of railways and highways as well as the rolling stock, they maintained. Modernisation, updating, and replacement of the outdated vehicles is an integral part of the development process and if not done, it will be reflected on the pace of development.
Sources told that Pakistan Railways is paying approximately Rs 13 billion annually for oil consumption and due to financial constraints, the Finance Ministry has not released required amount for oil supply to Pakistan Railways and proposals are under consideration to overcome these kind of situations.