Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique told the House that the government is continuously working on up gradation of Pakistan Railways to make it compatible with railway system of developed countries.
He was responding to a motion moved by Naeema Kishwar Khan. He said the railway system will be upgraded in four cycles. He said the great improvement in the system has been made in the first cycle.
The Minister said the revenue of Pakistan Railway has increased from 18 billion in 2013 to 32 billion rupees till June this year. He hoped that we will earn revenue of 40 billion rupees by June next year and cross the target of 36 billion rupees. He pointed out that revenue through freight trains has also been increased and by June next year it will be 16 billion rupees. He said punctuality of trains has been increased from 20 percent to 80 percent which is a higher rating. He said Pakistan Railways has oil reserves for 20 days.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said workshops of Pakistan Railway are running on full capacity and trains are being upgraded to facilitate the people.
He said train service on Sibbi-Khost-Harnai railway track will be started by the end of the next year at a cost of three billion rupees. He said train service on Rawalpindi-Jand-Kohat section will be restored in six months.
The Minister said railway a number of pieces of railways lands have been vacated and acquired and efforts are underway to retrieve rest of the land of Pakistan Railways from illegal occupation. He made it clear that Katchi Abadis on railway land will not be removed.
He said Pakistan Railways is ready to give lands for Karachi Circular Railway. He said railway land is being allotted for other purposes under a set policy and its violations will not be tolerated.
Earlier, taking part in the discussion on the motion, the members emphasised that the vast railway land should be vacated from illegal occupation and utilise for earning of revenue. They demanded the restoration of different suspended railway lines. The members appreciated the efforts of Minister for Railways for bringing improvement in the performance of Pakistan Railways.
All what this big mouth Railway Minister says is rubbish. Only last month, the Federal Planning Minister, Mr Ahsan Iqbal had said in a meeting that the performance of the Railway has gone down by 60%. The Railway is running on subsidiaries like PIA and Steel Mills. Those who have traveled in rails in other countries, even neighboring countries like Iran, they will feel the difference. Only tall claims in the media would not improve nothing.
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