Pakistan Railways is working diligently on the scheme for up-gradation and commercial operations of Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur to enhance its capacity.

According to the official source in the Ministry of Railways, the initiative would attract Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of diesel electric locomotives to invest in Pakistan locomotives Factory in manufacturing of diesel electric locomotives on joint venture basis.

The joint venture would be executed with a target of 50 percent deletion in the first five years of operation with following average: first year 25 percent, second year 35 percent, third year 40 percent, fourth year 45 percent, fifth year 50 percent and fifth to tenth year would add 60 to 70 percent gradually, he added.

He said the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the above scheme has been invited and technical proposals are under evaluation.

Presently, the capacity or annual production of the factory is to manufacture 25 diesel electric locomotives per annum on single shift basis, he said.

The source said that currently a long term plan is under study to evolve a strategy for indigenous manufacturing of locomotives in Risalpur Locomotive Factory in collaboration with world’s leading Locomotive manufacturers through Transfer of Technology (TOT).

It would be clear after finalisation of this strategy, whether the existing capacity needs to be augmented for introduction of second shift, he added.