Gilani directs railways to improve efficiency

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has directed ministries of finance and railways to settle the issue of subsidy as railways is short of the Rs20 billion worth subsidy that revenue division has refused to extend. Finance ministry is committed to extend Rs27 billion while railways has demanded Rs45 billion in terms of subsidy for current fiscal to run the cash strapped entity.
Prime Minister Wednesday during a briefing by Secretary Railways Arif Azim stressed upon getting railway locomotives repaired expeditiously to improve rail efficiency and transportation of goods in the country, so critical for convenience of the people and also to the economy. Secretary Railways informed the meeting that Railway Management was pro-actively engaged in getting off-track locomotives repaired, and had already put back 21 locomotives in operation in the month of November. He said 19 locomotives in the current month and 15 locomotives in the month of January would be repaired.
He further said Business Express Train and Shalimar Express Train will also commence operations during third week of next month and these trains would provide rail traveling facilities of high standards to businessmen and the masses alike between Lahore and Karachi. He said these trains would operate on public-private partnership basis. Prime Minister would inaugurate their operations sometime during next month. Secretary Railways said these arrangements for the undisrupted supply of diesel had been worked out and as such rail service would improve considerably with far less chances of disruption in the service. The secretary further said ministry of finance had released Rs600 million for making payments on account of electricity charges.
General Manager Operations Saeed Akhtar said payment of electricity bills would lead to improvement of rail services besides ensuring its punctuality. He further said the service of cargo train between Karachi and Lahore would also commence this month and the frequency of cargo trains will get momentum with every passing month. Secretary Railways further informed that three trains namely Rohri Express from Rawalpindi to Multan, Rawalpindi-Lahore Rail Car have been restored while Sandal Express from Sargodha to Multan via Jhang will be restored during next month. Secretary further said that pension and the salaries have been underwritten by government of Pakistan as per the decision taken by Prime Minister in a meeting held on 3rd November, 2011.
PM also directed the ministry of finance to timely release the Rs15 billion PSDP funds to railway for doubling of track, track rehabilitation, locomotive purchase and signaling purposes. Minister for finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, and minister for railways, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq, Secretary Finance, Secretary Economic Affairs Division and other senior officials of the relevant ministries attended the meeting.
Later, a three members delegation led by Chairman Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) called on Prime Minister and apprised the Prime Minister about the problems being faced by the ginners and cotton growers of the country in general and of Southern Punjab in particular. Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance to look into the matter and resolve the issue at the ECC level in consultation with other stakeholders aimed at stabilizing the prices of cotton in the country. Ginners pointed out that the mill owners were using delaying tactics to procure cotton to the disadvantage of both ginners and growers.