SHAMK9
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Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to procure 275 new locomotives within a short span of time for restoring suspended trains, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Nauman Islam Sheikh said on Thursday.
Replying to the questions of legislators in National Assembly, he said the affairs of PR were being streamlined and situation would be improved within next six to eight months.
Railway track from Karachi to Lahore would be doubled by December 2013 thus increasing the capacity to run more trains.
He said PR has generated Rs 1.4 billion from July to December 2012. PR would be able to save Rs 4 billion per annum of overdraft interest due to imposing moratorium during the current financial year 2012-13.
He said PR has registered an overdraft of Rs 4.600 billion with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) during the year 2009-10 but after that no overdraft has so far been taken in 2.5 years. The operating expenses are being met by revenue receipts of PR. While the burden of salary and pension is being endured by the federal government.
Less availability of locomotives, paucity of funds, increase in salaries, increase in fuel prices, gas and electricity cost also contributed to rising PR deficit.
A total of three business trains are being run in private sector. Shalimar Express has suspended its operation for the last eight days. Responding to a question he said land measuring 2502.633 acres has been retrieved/ regularised by PR up to Dec 31, 2012 out of total 5662.664 acres.
He said the main objective of establishing Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) was to provide consultancy and advisory services in the execution of rail-related projects in Pakistan and abroad.
To provide Railways tickets at the doorstep of the general public PRACS operates Railway Reservation and Enquiry Offices in major cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi on receipt of 4 percent service charges.
Replying to the questions of legislators in National Assembly, he said the affairs of PR were being streamlined and situation would be improved within next six to eight months.
Railway track from Karachi to Lahore would be doubled by December 2013 thus increasing the capacity to run more trains.
He said PR has generated Rs 1.4 billion from July to December 2012. PR would be able to save Rs 4 billion per annum of overdraft interest due to imposing moratorium during the current financial year 2012-13.
He said PR has registered an overdraft of Rs 4.600 billion with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) during the year 2009-10 but after that no overdraft has so far been taken in 2.5 years. The operating expenses are being met by revenue receipts of PR. While the burden of salary and pension is being endured by the federal government.
Less availability of locomotives, paucity of funds, increase in salaries, increase in fuel prices, gas and electricity cost also contributed to rising PR deficit.
A total of three business trains are being run in private sector. Shalimar Express has suspended its operation for the last eight days. Responding to a question he said land measuring 2502.633 acres has been retrieved/ regularised by PR up to Dec 31, 2012 out of total 5662.664 acres.
He said the main objective of establishing Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) was to provide consultancy and advisory services in the execution of rail-related projects in Pakistan and abroad.
To provide Railways tickets at the doorstep of the general public PRACS operates Railway Reservation and Enquiry Offices in major cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi on receipt of 4 percent service charges.
