A.Rafay
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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
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
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
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan