LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Monday that efforts were being made to generate maximum revenue from all areas of the department.
Highlighting the 110-day performance of Pakistan Railways here at Railways headquarters, he said that Pakistan Railways had achieved some initial success in three months adding that each employee of Pakistan Railways was committed to put the department on path to success.
In past, he said, Railways HQ and the Ministry both were working in different manner but now they were on same page. He said that different problems could only be resolved through a pragmatic approach.
The Minister said that ensuring merit was very necessary to take the PR out of existing challenges.
He said the number of freight locomotives has been increased to 24 from 8 and it had helped in generating good revenue. Pakistan Railways once again started to play main role of oil supply, he added.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said that from now onward all new and used locomotives would be purchased with warranty.
He said that oil reserves had improved during the last three months and now PR has oil reserve of 12 days.
The Minister said that AC business coaches have been converted into AC standard coaches. Pakistan Railways earned over Rs 1 billion in 90 days against its target, he said.
"We have brought down the daily deficit of the department from Rs 100 million to Rs 20 million," he claimed.
Saad Rafique said that scrap disposal policy has been evolved, adding that operation against encroachments was going on which would continue without any discrimination in all areas.
He said that luggage size would be determined so that passengers could not face any problem while traveling.
Now transfers would be done according to the rules, he added.
The Minister said that PR had some 6 to 7 high profile cases of corruption which would be referred to NAB after the appointment of its chairman. Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court for early hearing of case related to Royal Palm Club, he added.
About the allotment of houses, Saad said that no house would be allotted till the formulation of policy in this regard. He said that from now onwards Pakistan Railways land would not be sold and Technical Committee Examine has been formed for Ex-Pakistan Leave. This committee would examine the applications properly and the leave would be sanctioned purely on merit, he said.
He said that 500 sites have been identified for installing billboards. He said that Railways land would be used for "Mandi Muwashian" cattle market during Eidul Azha for generating revenue.
Saad said that it was prime objective of the PR to upgrade railway track from Peshawar to Karachi to increase the speed of trains up to 120 KM per hour.
Responding to a question, he said that Chairman Railways should be from Railways.
The Minister said that Railway Heritage is also being formed comprising Heritage experts, architects and conservation specialists.
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