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* Saad Rafique says department earned Rs 12.87 billion during 200 days of the present government
LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has announced that the ministry is going to start a cargo train between Turkey and Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference on Sunday about the six-month progress of the Pakistan Railways (PR), the minister said that effective steps were underway to ensure financial recovery of the PR.
He said that the department’s deficit would decrease by the end of the current fiscal year. He said the bureaucracy had started doing its work with dedication and officers even worked on holidays.
Highlighting the achievements of the PR since June 11, 2013, the minister said the PR would be able to successfully reduce its deficit despite excessive expenditure of Rs 3 billion on pensions, salaries and increased fuel prices.
He said the PR had earned Rs 3.43 billion more than the previous year with an income of Rs 12.87 billion during 200 days of the present government.
He said that all corrupt officers had been removed and skilled and honest officers were deputed to run the PR affairs. “Not a single fresh appointment has been made except a transparently appointed director general of public relations, while the director general (legal) will also be posted to activate the legal department,” he added.
He said the former rulers had destroyed the PR through political interferences. Freight was the most neglected sector, as only one freight train was operational when the present government took over the charge, he said, adding that now the present administration was operating four to five freight trains daily.
The minister said that the Islamabad-Istanbul freight train would be restored soon and its linkage with India was also under consideration.
The minister said that the punctuality rate of trains was increased to 55 per cent from 10 per cent and there was still “room for improvement”.
Commenting on ex-Pakistan leave, he said a procedure had been developed and no officer could go abroad without the permission of a technical committee. Several officers had returned from abroad and others would face legal action, he added.
He said that 23 out of 58 locomotives would arrive from China by March, while the rest would reach here after August. “A modern workshop has been set up for their maintenance,” he added.
The minister said the PR was working on branding and it would soon earn billions of rupees through branding of several local and multinational companies. “Initially, three trains – Tezgam, Awam and Khyber Mail express – are going to be offered for branding on seat covers, internal walls of passenger coaches and toilets,” he added.
Additionally, he said, three railway stations, including that of Lahore and Karachi, were also being presented for branding, and freight coaches were also under consideration for the same.
The minister said that since the PR was facilitating citizens of the four provinces, they should not impose levy on its lands.
He thanked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the payment of Rs 870 million to the PR.
He appreciated the PR police inspector general for his efficiency and providing security to trains. He appealed to the high courts to take notice of the one-sided decisions of stay orders by lower courts without hearing the stance of the PR.
About the Business Train, he said, “We know that thieves are strong but the Business Train operators will have to pay back each penny of the Pakistan Railways.”
The minister said a summary of restructuring the Railways Board had been sent to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the ministries concerned for approval.
He said that after restructuring of the board, the additional general manager would be member of the board, besides three or four members from the private sector and only one general manager would be the chief of the department.
He said about 315 locomotives were in the pipeline, including 58 from China, 27 after rehabilitation form foreign companies and five from local loco-shops. The matter of 150 locomotives was under litigation, he added.
He said that privatisation of the PR was not even under consideration and only its restructuring would be done.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/27-Jan-2014/pr-to-start-pakistan-turkey-cargo-train-says-ministe
LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has announced that the ministry is going to start a cargo train between Turkey and Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference on Sunday about the six-month progress of the Pakistan Railways (PR), the minister said that effective steps were underway to ensure financial recovery of the PR.
He said that the department’s deficit would decrease by the end of the current fiscal year. He said the bureaucracy had started doing its work with dedication and officers even worked on holidays.
Highlighting the achievements of the PR since June 11, 2013, the minister said the PR would be able to successfully reduce its deficit despite excessive expenditure of Rs 3 billion on pensions, salaries and increased fuel prices.
He said the PR had earned Rs 3.43 billion more than the previous year with an income of Rs 12.87 billion during 200 days of the present government.
He said that all corrupt officers had been removed and skilled and honest officers were deputed to run the PR affairs. “Not a single fresh appointment has been made except a transparently appointed director general of public relations, while the director general (legal) will also be posted to activate the legal department,” he added.
He said the former rulers had destroyed the PR through political interferences. Freight was the most neglected sector, as only one freight train was operational when the present government took over the charge, he said, adding that now the present administration was operating four to five freight trains daily.
The minister said that the Islamabad-Istanbul freight train would be restored soon and its linkage with India was also under consideration.
The minister said that the punctuality rate of trains was increased to 55 per cent from 10 per cent and there was still “room for improvement”.
Commenting on ex-Pakistan leave, he said a procedure had been developed and no officer could go abroad without the permission of a technical committee. Several officers had returned from abroad and others would face legal action, he added.
He said that 23 out of 58 locomotives would arrive from China by March, while the rest would reach here after August. “A modern workshop has been set up for their maintenance,” he added.
The minister said the PR was working on branding and it would soon earn billions of rupees through branding of several local and multinational companies. “Initially, three trains – Tezgam, Awam and Khyber Mail express – are going to be offered for branding on seat covers, internal walls of passenger coaches and toilets,” he added.
Additionally, he said, three railway stations, including that of Lahore and Karachi, were also being presented for branding, and freight coaches were also under consideration for the same.
The minister said that since the PR was facilitating citizens of the four provinces, they should not impose levy on its lands.
He thanked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the payment of Rs 870 million to the PR.
He appreciated the PR police inspector general for his efficiency and providing security to trains. He appealed to the high courts to take notice of the one-sided decisions of stay orders by lower courts without hearing the stance of the PR.
About the Business Train, he said, “We know that thieves are strong but the Business Train operators will have to pay back each penny of the Pakistan Railways.”
The minister said a summary of restructuring the Railways Board had been sent to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the ministries concerned for approval.
He said that after restructuring of the board, the additional general manager would be member of the board, besides three or four members from the private sector and only one general manager would be the chief of the department.
He said about 315 locomotives were in the pipeline, including 58 from China, 27 after rehabilitation form foreign companies and five from local loco-shops. The matter of 150 locomotives was under litigation, he added.
He said that privatisation of the PR was not even under consideration and only its restructuring would be done.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/27-Jan-2014/pr-to-start-pakistan-turkey-cargo-train-says-ministe
