Pakistan Railways (PR) will rent engines from India, a private TV channel reported on Saturday. A meeting chaired by Railways Minister Ghulam Bilour evaluated acquiring engines on rent from India. According to the Railways Ministry, 50 engines will be rented initially with the aim to improve performance.
Earlier, it was reported that PR was considering a proposal to hire locomotives from different countries, including India, to normalize operation which had been affected due to breakdowns in most locomotives. A railways ministry official said PR is facing an acute shortage of locomotive which was delaying passenger trains on major routes and had suspended operations at small stations.
He confirmed that a proposal was under consideration to hire locomotives from India but would be finalized after getting government approval. He said a comprehensive action plan had already approved during a high-level meeting chaired by Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour. The official said the proposal has been discussed with India and India was willing.
He said all legal formalities will be followed before acquiring the locomotives and PR will invite international firms to make offers.