Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Monday expressed his resolve to initiate efficient train service, overcome losses, stop political interference and transform Pakistan Railways into an innovative and corruption-free organization. Addressing a press conference here, Sheikh Rashid said there would be no political interference in Pakistan Railways. He said that people traveling with Pakistan Railways would be provided facilities in all the trains and there is a dire need to upgrade railways' freight service. He said that his ministry has decided to double the freight trains, saying that freight train services would be doubled to facilitate people.
The minister said Pakistan Railways is facing a deficit of Rs 37 billion at present and he will work to minimize this deficit, saying that within next 30 days he will bring significant changes in the railways. He said that his ministry will add up to 15,000-20,000 employment opportunities in railways, saying that all the appointments will be based on merit.
The reasons of losses in PR would be studied in detail and after that a viable plan will be launched to bring down the railway's losses to zero. He added that at present PR was receiving Rs 30 billion as subsidy but his ministry will request the government to bear pension related expenditures which will reduce railway's losses significantly. The PR could be changed by introducing innovations. PR should be opened for investment, he said. The minister said that within next few weeks his ministry will reduce rail passenger fares as well as increase the freight trains to add up revenue generation.
Track up-gradation between Rawalpindi and Lahore to reduce journey time is also on high priority. He said that his ministry will make all-out efforts to increase the number of coaches for the railways and air-condition facilities will be extended to the passengers of economy class. "We will try to manufacture all the new required coaches for various passenger trains in local carriage factories, situated in Lahore and Islamabad. The Islamabad carriage factory will be improved", he maintained.
Rasheed also added that Risalpur Locomotive Factory will also be upgraded and modernized to improve sick locomotives. He said that to attract more passengers, especially those visiting Iran for various purposes, Quetta-Taftan section will be improved in collaboration with Iranian government.
Sheikh Rashid went on saying "I don't know why we are still living in a slavery state which the British left us in. We have power vans and high-tech locomotives. We can upgrade trains to air conditioned class." He invites food industry to join hands with Pakistan Railways to offer fast food on stations across country.
The press conference was also attended by M Javed Anwar, Chairman Ministry of Railways, Aftab Akbar, CEO Pakistan Railways, Raja Zaheer, SP Pakistan Railways Police, Farukh Taimur Ghilzai, Secretary Railway Board, Munawar Ali Shah, DG Technical, and Maryam Gillani, DG Operations.