Tender floated for 150 locomotives, NA told

[A.Rafay]

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Friday informed the National Assembly currently the Pakistan Railways (PR) was running its operation with 137 locomotives and had floated a tender for purchasing 150 locomotives.

Replying to various supplementary questions during the question hour Bilour said the present government acquired no new locomotive. The locomotives were purchased from China during the Musharraf regime and eight of them were in running condition. Unfortunately no agreement was signed for providing spare parts for the locomotives, he added. He said the government had inked an agreement with China for delivery of 175 locomotives and 15 percent down payment had also been made in this regard. However, no locomotive has been received so far, he added.

He said the government, which would make it a profitable organisation, approved seven projects for the complete revival of PR.

He said all the locomotives were around 25-year old. He urged for release of announced funds of Rs 6.1 billion, so that more locomotives could be made operational. He said the PR was working on the rehabilitation of 27 D E locomotives for which contract had been signed on July 19 and spares would be received within 13 months from the date of effectiveness of the contract.

He said the PR had 1810 bogie coaches and 17,545 wagons. At present, 2,243 bogies wagons were ineffective being under repair in Mugalpura Workshop and Hyderabad.

He said the PR had not executed any contract for manufacturing of engines or parts at the Ordnance Factory during the last four years and it had not technical expertise to manufacture railway engine. The PR has a locomotive factory in Risalpur where such engines can be assembled.

Bilour said there was a proposal to resettle 4,653 families presently occupying over 170 acres land of Karachi Circular Railway adjacent to the Shah Latif Township. The resettlement of the project-affected persons would be undertaken soon after the signing of loan agreement between the government and JICA, he added. app

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[A.Rafay]

Strategy finalized to restructure Pak Railways: Billour tells NA
ISLAMABAD, The National Assembly was informed Friday that a strategy has been finalized to restructure Pakistan Railways. The National Assembly resumed its session in Islamabad on Friday with Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi in the chair.

Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour told the House during question hour on Friday that a strategy has been sent to Cabinet Committee on Restructuring of Public Sector Enterprises for approval. He said a new board has been constituted for the improvement of Pakistan Railways.

The Minister said recently seven projects have been approved to help Pakistan Railways stand on its own feet.

These include procurement of 275 new locomotives and repair and rehabilitation of dysfunctional locomotives. He said currently Pakistan Railways has 494 locomotives. Of these 357 are dysfunctional which has badly affected the operations of Pakistan Railways. He, however, said contracts have been signed for the repair of out of service locomotives.

About the steps taken to increase the revenue of Pakistan Railways, he said private sector is being involved in different activities including the development of Dry Ports and commercial management of passenger trains. Two trains Shalimar and Business Express have been outsource and efforts are underway to outsource more trains.

The Minister said that three new Dry Ports are being established in public-private sector. One at Prem Nagar has been inaugurated while the other two at Aza Khel and Multan are in the process.

Responding to a question, the Minister said there is a proposal for revival of Karachi Circular Railway as modern commuter system with the assistance of Japan.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Ammad Khan said that Parliamentary recommendations will continue to guide the future course of relationship with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and interests. He said both the countries are working for greater engagements at political, economic and military spheres. He hoped it would help to revive our mutual confidence, comfort and cordiality to move forward.

The Minister of State said that US has recently signed an agreement for providing funding of 67 million dollars for upgradation of Peshawar-Torkham Highway. USAID also announced a multiyear Pakistan Private Initiative based on public-private partnership with upto 80 million dollars of funding. He said US continues to be the largest trade partner of Pakistan. Pakistan’s bilateral trade with the US during 2011 increased to 5.78 billion dollars registering a growth of 7.8 percent.

Describing the drone attacks as illegal and violation of international laws, Malik Ammad Khan said that Pakistan has forcefully raised this issue at the international fora. He said recent cross border attacks from Afghan side have also been rebutted and raised time and again with the Afghan authorities.

About relations with Afghanistan, Malik Ammad said Pakistan has been able to establish good relations with all communities and leaders in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has pledged over 300 million dollars for reconstruction and development in Afghanistan and has been working on various projects in field of health, education and infrastructure.