The annual income of Pakistan Railways has reached to Rs 36 billion in the last financial year as a result of steps being taken to reform PR, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said this during launching ceremony of the Azadi Train on Thursday. Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid launched the train at a ceremony at the Margalla Station.
The train has been specially prepared as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Rafique said that the annual income of Pakistan Railways has significantly improved due to reforms in the Railway sector, adding that in the past the annual income of Pakistan Railways remained at Rs 180 million.
Recounting steps taken to reform Railways he said, it is an example how an official department could stand on its own feet without getting any bailout package during the last three years. "There is hundred percent increased in the revenue of Pakistan Railways in three years", he added. Rafique said it portrays genesis of Pakistan, our past and bright future besides highlighting cultural diversity of the provinces and different regions of the country.
He appreciated attached departments of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and ISPR for their close cooperation in making the Azadi Train a resounding success. Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid said that once the PR was considered a sick organisation but due to efforts of its minister and the railways officials and staff it has made a great turnaround.
He said floats made part of the train depict how the brave soldiers of Pakistan armed forces fought against the enemy to thwart its nefarious designs and defend the motherland. The month-long journey by Azadi Train will cover more than fifty cities across all the four provinces. The train will stay overnight at sixteen stations including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Samma Sata, Sukkur, Sibi, Quetta, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Kundian Station. The Azadi Train is a customised commemorative train prepared through the joint efforts of Pakistan Railways, Ministry of Information Broadcasting and National Heritage and Inter Services Public Relations.