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ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Monday suggested the government for transportation of all goods through Pakistan Railway (PR)’s cargo, which not only would increase PR revenue but also save the road networks from destruction. MQM Senator Nasreen Jalil forwarded this suggestion with a view it would help the government to run PR as profitable organisation. She informed the Committee federal government has nominated two member parliament from all four provinces as advisers for PR but regretted not a single meeting of them was called up till now.
About encroachment on PR land, additional General Manager Traffic Mehmoodul Hasan informed the Committee 700 cases have been registered and about 700 people were arrested in this regard.
He said PR’s has 167,690 acres total land across the country in which Punjab has 90,326 acres, Sindh 39,428 acres, Balochistan 28,228 acres and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 9,708 acres land.
Till 2012 he said 5,662 acres of PR’s land was encroached in which the government has recovered 3,050 acres land from encroachers and assured the Committee the remaining would be recovered soon.
He said general public encroached 3,422 acres, government institutions 441 acres and defence institutions 1,799 acres of PR’s land.
The Committee was informed fire in PR’s coaches was on rise especially in last few months. During last six months, 18 PR’s coaches caught fire, on which enquiry of 10 cases have been completed while eight were still left. Only in Sukkar eight cases PR’s coaches fire were reported while rest all held in six divisions. There are several reasons for putting PR’s coaches on fire and terrorism is one of them. Appropriate measures have been taken to control such types of incidents. Patrolling has been increased, removal of coaches from PR stations are some measures, which the government has already taken. IG PR Muneer Ahmad Chishti informed the Committee foreign hands might be involved in putting PR coaches on fire. The Committee expressed serious reservation over the facilities provided in PR’s schools/hospitals in Karachi and Lahore and recommended the government to increase its budget.
The Committee with Senator Mir Mohammad Rind in chair was also briefed about the Islamabad-Murree and Muzaffarabad railway track. The Committee was told this scheme was initiated three months ago and was given to a new company with PM approval on May 2014. The government has provided Rs 60 million for feasibility report of this project, which would provide report in six months. Twelve companies took part in bidding process and it has also a Board of Director. The government has provided Rs 2 billion as seed money for this project.Total length of the track is 110 kilometers and on July 21, 2014 a company has already awarded for feasibility report. All technical studies for this project are carried out.
Senator Taj Haider told the Committee instead of diesel engines, efforts should be made to run electric trains, which would bring improvement in the system.Secretary PR informed the Committee cargo services of PR was totally zero but now it improved tremendously and during last year, PR cargo handling Rs 24 billion goods. Government has plans to establish a big scheme of dry port construction at Havilian and Jacobabad and Gwadar, which will improve PR efficiency. The Committee also demanded Pak-China Railway Track map in next meeting
Legislators recommend handling all cargo through PR
About encroachment on PR land, additional General Manager Traffic Mehmoodul Hasan informed the Committee 700 cases have been registered and about 700 people were arrested in this regard.
He said PR’s has 167,690 acres total land across the country in which Punjab has 90,326 acres, Sindh 39,428 acres, Balochistan 28,228 acres and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 9,708 acres land.
Till 2012 he said 5,662 acres of PR’s land was encroached in which the government has recovered 3,050 acres land from encroachers and assured the Committee the remaining would be recovered soon.
He said general public encroached 3,422 acres, government institutions 441 acres and defence institutions 1,799 acres of PR’s land.
The Committee was informed fire in PR’s coaches was on rise especially in last few months. During last six months, 18 PR’s coaches caught fire, on which enquiry of 10 cases have been completed while eight were still left. Only in Sukkar eight cases PR’s coaches fire were reported while rest all held in six divisions. There are several reasons for putting PR’s coaches on fire and terrorism is one of them. Appropriate measures have been taken to control such types of incidents. Patrolling has been increased, removal of coaches from PR stations are some measures, which the government has already taken. IG PR Muneer Ahmad Chishti informed the Committee foreign hands might be involved in putting PR coaches on fire. The Committee expressed serious reservation over the facilities provided in PR’s schools/hospitals in Karachi and Lahore and recommended the government to increase its budget.
The Committee with Senator Mir Mohammad Rind in chair was also briefed about the Islamabad-Murree and Muzaffarabad railway track. The Committee was told this scheme was initiated three months ago and was given to a new company with PM approval on May 2014. The government has provided Rs 60 million for feasibility report of this project, which would provide report in six months. Twelve companies took part in bidding process and it has also a Board of Director. The government has provided Rs 2 billion as seed money for this project.Total length of the track is 110 kilometers and on July 21, 2014 a company has already awarded for feasibility report. All technical studies for this project are carried out.
Senator Taj Haider told the Committee instead of diesel engines, efforts should be made to run electric trains, which would bring improvement in the system.Secretary PR informed the Committee cargo services of PR was totally zero but now it improved tremendously and during last year, PR cargo handling Rs 24 billion goods. Government has plans to establish a big scheme of dry port construction at Havilian and Jacobabad and Gwadar, which will improve PR efficiency. The Committee also demanded Pak-China Railway Track map in next meeting
Legislators recommend handling all cargo through PR
