Sulman Badshah
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Rail links to be set up with Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey
Pakistan has decided to establish rail linkages with Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey aimed at boosting trade and tourism amongst the Muslim countries, official sources told. The decision was taken at a recent special meeting of federal cabinet convened to review the performance of different ministries. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over the meeting.
The sources said the Prime Minister personally took an interest in the establishment of rail links with three Muslim countries.
The cabinet also decided that overstaffing in Pakistan Railways would be rationalised gradually.
Official documents reveal that the cabinet was briefed on the rail network of the country and the condition of assets: 67 per cent of the total track of 11,778 kilometres is overage; the length of non functional track is 1176 km, 75 per cent of the 452 locomotives are overage, 2 per cent of the 1,748 passenger coaches are also overage; 71 of the 10,656 four wheeler freight wagons are overage, and 90 per cent of the telecom and signalling system is obsolete.
The cabinet was informed that the revenue receipts had registered an increase of Rs 5.94 billion. These receipts stood at Rs 16.06 billion during the financial year 2012-13 whereas the receipts are Rs 24 billion in the financial year 2013-14.
The number of loaded freight wagons had increased from 46,617 in 2012-13 to 76,304 in 2013-14. In addition, 5.74 million more passengers were carried during 2013-14 as compared to 2012-13. The punctuality of trains had increased from 25 per cent to 60 per cent.
In order to restructure the Pakistan Railways, the ministry is working in collaboration with LUMS. The UET Lahore and NED Universities have also been engaged in the process. The Walton Academy in Lahore, spread over 40 acres of land, is being rehabilitated.
The cabinet was informed that salaries, pensions and fuel account for 85 per cent of the Railways expenditure.
The Ministry of Railways gave a commitment that it will provide transport for coal to four power plants at Jamshoro Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffarabad and Sahiwal subject to improvement of track and signalling system. The improvement would require at least 3- 3-1/2 years. For the transportation of coal to coal based power plants, 63 locomotives and 3,065 wagons would be required. In addition, Rs 52.1 billion would be required for rehabilitation of the infrastructure. The total cost hovers around Rs 123.5 billion. A separate freight coal company is also being established by the Pakistan Railways.
The cabinet was also briefed on the 107 kilometres new rail link between Islamabad, Muree and Muzaffarabad. It was stated that feasibility study of the project would be carried out at a cost of Rs 57.92 million. The study shall be completed in six months. It was proposed that the project may be undertaken on BOT basis.
The Minister for Railways informed the cabinet about the rail linkage under Early Harvest Projects of CPEC. Upgradation of the existing ML-1 from Peshawar to Karachi and establishment of a dry port at Havelian are included in the early harvest projects. A joint feasibility study would be undertaken in collaboration with Nespak and China Railway Eeyuan Engineering Group Company Ltd by PRACST which is a subsidiary company of Pakistan Railways.
In order to generate revenue in the freight and passenger sectors, the following measures have been adopted: (i) establishment of freight company for new business avenues like coal power plants; (ii) restoration of container trains for dry ports/inland container terminals; (iii) restoration of cargo train between Karachi and Lahore; and (iv) long term business agreements with the PSO, Maple leaf Cement, NLC etc.
For revenue generation in passenger sector are as follows: (i) reduction and rationalisation of passenger fare, increasing patronage and earnings; (ii) restoration of Akbar Express, Faiza Ahmad Faiz Express, Musa Pak Express, Jand and Pind Dadan Khan Shuttles (Mehran Express being restored); (iii) tapping religious, political, cultural and festivity tourism (Raiwind, Sehwan, Sikh, Hindu and Azadi Special Trains etc; and (iv) branding.
One of the major initiatives of the Ministry is retrieval of Railways land from encroachers. Moreover a decision has been made neither to sell railways land nor leasing it out for 99 years. However, short and medium term leases would be granted.
Minister for railways stated that to make Railway stand on its feet, the Railways lands, which, as per revenue record are state lands, have to be transferred in the name of railways. This process has been completed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawaka province and need to be replicated in the other three provinces. The commercial utilisation of railway land has been initiated.
As regards scrap disposed policy, a transparent process has been adopted. The disposal has been decentralised. The size of the lot has been rationalised to not more than 2000 tons for fair competition. Advance payment of 50 per cent is a pre-requisite for getting the sale order.
Minister for Railways stated that Pakistan Railways was ready to offer 260 acres of its land for the Karachi Circular Railway. He recommended that the project may be undertaken independently by the City District Government Karachi/ Government of Sindh.
The Minister also proposed the upgradation of Risalpur Locomotive Factory, Carriage Factory Islamabad and Concrete Sleeper Factory Kotri under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Pakistan has decided to establish rail linkages with Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey aimed at boosting trade and tourism amongst the Muslim countries, official sources told. The decision was taken at a recent special meeting of federal cabinet convened to review the performance of different ministries. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif presided over the meeting.
The sources said the Prime Minister personally took an interest in the establishment of rail links with three Muslim countries.
The cabinet also decided that overstaffing in Pakistan Railways would be rationalised gradually.
Official documents reveal that the cabinet was briefed on the rail network of the country and the condition of assets: 67 per cent of the total track of 11,778 kilometres is overage; the length of non functional track is 1176 km, 75 per cent of the 452 locomotives are overage, 2 per cent of the 1,748 passenger coaches are also overage; 71 of the 10,656 four wheeler freight wagons are overage, and 90 per cent of the telecom and signalling system is obsolete.
The cabinet was informed that the revenue receipts had registered an increase of Rs 5.94 billion. These receipts stood at Rs 16.06 billion during the financial year 2012-13 whereas the receipts are Rs 24 billion in the financial year 2013-14.
The number of loaded freight wagons had increased from 46,617 in 2012-13 to 76,304 in 2013-14. In addition, 5.74 million more passengers were carried during 2013-14 as compared to 2012-13. The punctuality of trains had increased from 25 per cent to 60 per cent.
In order to restructure the Pakistan Railways, the ministry is working in collaboration with LUMS. The UET Lahore and NED Universities have also been engaged in the process. The Walton Academy in Lahore, spread over 40 acres of land, is being rehabilitated.
The cabinet was informed that salaries, pensions and fuel account for 85 per cent of the Railways expenditure.
The Ministry of Railways gave a commitment that it will provide transport for coal to four power plants at Jamshoro Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffarabad and Sahiwal subject to improvement of track and signalling system. The improvement would require at least 3- 3-1/2 years. For the transportation of coal to coal based power plants, 63 locomotives and 3,065 wagons would be required. In addition, Rs 52.1 billion would be required for rehabilitation of the infrastructure. The total cost hovers around Rs 123.5 billion. A separate freight coal company is also being established by the Pakistan Railways.
The cabinet was also briefed on the 107 kilometres new rail link between Islamabad, Muree and Muzaffarabad. It was stated that feasibility study of the project would be carried out at a cost of Rs 57.92 million. The study shall be completed in six months. It was proposed that the project may be undertaken on BOT basis.
The Minister for Railways informed the cabinet about the rail linkage under Early Harvest Projects of CPEC. Upgradation of the existing ML-1 from Peshawar to Karachi and establishment of a dry port at Havelian are included in the early harvest projects. A joint feasibility study would be undertaken in collaboration with Nespak and China Railway Eeyuan Engineering Group Company Ltd by PRACST which is a subsidiary company of Pakistan Railways.
In order to generate revenue in the freight and passenger sectors, the following measures have been adopted: (i) establishment of freight company for new business avenues like coal power plants; (ii) restoration of container trains for dry ports/inland container terminals; (iii) restoration of cargo train between Karachi and Lahore; and (iv) long term business agreements with the PSO, Maple leaf Cement, NLC etc.
For revenue generation in passenger sector are as follows: (i) reduction and rationalisation of passenger fare, increasing patronage and earnings; (ii) restoration of Akbar Express, Faiza Ahmad Faiz Express, Musa Pak Express, Jand and Pind Dadan Khan Shuttles (Mehran Express being restored); (iii) tapping religious, political, cultural and festivity tourism (Raiwind, Sehwan, Sikh, Hindu and Azadi Special Trains etc; and (iv) branding.
One of the major initiatives of the Ministry is retrieval of Railways land from encroachers. Moreover a decision has been made neither to sell railways land nor leasing it out for 99 years. However, short and medium term leases would be granted.
Minister for railways stated that to make Railway stand on its feet, the Railways lands, which, as per revenue record are state lands, have to be transferred in the name of railways. This process has been completed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawaka province and need to be replicated in the other three provinces. The commercial utilisation of railway land has been initiated.
As regards scrap disposed policy, a transparent process has been adopted. The disposal has been decentralised. The size of the lot has been rationalised to not more than 2000 tons for fair competition. Advance payment of 50 per cent is a pre-requisite for getting the sale order.
Minister for Railways stated that Pakistan Railways was ready to offer 260 acres of its land for the Karachi Circular Railway. He recommended that the project may be undertaken independently by the City District Government Karachi/ Government of Sindh.
The Minister also proposed the upgradation of Risalpur Locomotive Factory, Carriage Factory Islamabad and Concrete Sleeper Factory Kotri under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
