As part of efforts to strengthen Indo-Pak trade ties, Indian Railways, on the instructions of the government, is mulling to provide 50 diesel locomotives on hiring basis to Pakistan.
As per the plan, railways is likely to give at an approximate rate of Rs 1500 per hour per locomotive of 3000 HP to Pakistan for leasing purpose.
Besides leasing out, railways will also provide training facilities for Pakistan railwaymen to run Indian locomotives.
“The Ministry of External Affairs has already okayed the proposal and now the modalities of supplying locomotives are being worked,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.
“If the supply takes place then it will be for the first time that Indian Railways will come to the aid of Pakistan,” the official said.
Though railways regularly supply locomotives to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana, it will be for the first time that railways will supply locomotives to Pakistan, said the official.
“Railways supply about 10 locomotives on an average in a year. Generally, we sell locos on outright purchase basis to other countries but this will be for the first time that we are considering to give it on hiring basis because Pakistan Railways is preferring leasing to buying,” said the official.
The three-member team of the Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services Limited (PRACS) had earlier held preliminary discussions with the officials of Railway Infrastructure, Technical and Economic Services (RITES).
RITES have received request from Pakistan Railways regarding the supply of locomotives from India. “A formal agreement will be signed between RITES and PRACS after the finalisation of modalities,” said the official.
Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of locomotives as it has about 520 locomotives out of which about 450 are under repair.
Why not purchase these locomotives which will be cheaper than what we want to purchase from China or USA? There is no harm after all we are next door neighbors.
I m an INDIAN and I appreciate u from d bottom of my heart. I too believe that these kind of thinking will help India and Pakistan to raise from the statement of developing countries to DEVELOPED COUNTRIES and most Important PEACE. Its only the people of India and Pakistan can build new peaceful relation between our countries. Hope so someday we say INDIA and PAKISTAN are best friends and wont allow any western countries to disturb our relation.
INDIA and PAKISTAN Zindabad !!
450 under repair out of 520 total is a bad number …
Surprise, why it did not scare the hell out of the Indians …
Instead of leasing locomotives, buying will be a better option. Leasing locomotives for the time being would be only feasible if concerned authorities want to buy locomotives in future, not from India but some other country. These days nothing works smoothly without a kickback. Hope that any decision taken will be in the best interest of Pakistan.
@Khalid- even India doesn't want to sell it to you. There are more than enough buyers.
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