Consistency in planning and focused strategies for revival of Pakistan Railways have helped brought punctuality of trains, up-gradation of tracks and revenue of this public sector entity. Talking to media, Muhammad Hanif Gul, Divisional Superintendent (DS) Pakistan Railways said that Pakistan Railways is mulling to manufacture 300 Hopper Wagons at Locomotive factory Risalpur for transportation of coal for different on-going power plants in the country.
He said that punctuality of trains and revenue of railways had significantly improved and enhanced during the tenure of present government adding 98 percent punctuality of trains in Peshawar division and about 80 percent at national level were currently being observed in the country. The annual revenue of Pakistan Railways that remained at lowest level of around Rs 10 billion in 2013 had jumped to a record Rs 38 billion last year due to increase of passengers and freight services, he explained.
He said financial situation of Pakistan Railways in 2012-13 was grimed and funds were not available even to buy oil to run freight and passengers' trains. However, he added that due to comprehensive strategies and plans of Federal Minister for Railways, Khwaja Saad Rafique the Railways' services have remarkably improved and people's confidence has restored in the train services thus making the PR a profitable entity.
Under China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC), he said the main Peshawar-Karachi railway track would be upgraded to provide speedy and safe service to the passengers. The Divisional Superintendent (DS) Pakistan Railways said that Green-Line Train service that runs between Rawalpindi and Karachi proves highly successful and Pakistan Railways has the plan to extend this service to Peshawar in future. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a very important geo-strategic location and Pakistan Railways was also planning to extend Jaffar Express train service to Peshawar. To a question, he said that the chief minister KP has desired operationalization of the circular railway project before general elections and this dream of him can be materialised by making investment in this sector for which Pakistan Railways is ready to provide all technical support to KP Government.