From public to private: No takers for three short-route train services

The last date for private firms to submit tenders is January 24.

KARACHI: After launching three long-route train services between Karachi and Lahore via public-private partnerships, Pakistan Railways (PR) is hoping to replicate the sucess on a smaller scale. This time, it is hoping to privatise the management of three short-route train services operating in Sindh.

The Railways has already invited bids for the privatisation of the services, all of which are in its Karachi division.

The deadline for submitting tenders is January 24, but so far, no private firm has shown interest. One of the train services to be privatised is the Marvi Express, which operates between Khokhrapar and Mirpurkhas. The other two operate between Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas.

The trains used on the routes are in bad shape and the Railways is hoping private companies will spruce them up as well as ensure that they run on schedule.

The Railways’ divisional superintendent, Syed Ismail Rizvi, said, “Pakistan Railways is not in the position to invest money on these trains because of financial constraints. This is why we want to bring private companies in - they can help facilitate passengers.”

He added that his organisation is hoping private companies make bids before the deadline is up.



“The encouragement to privatise the management of short-route trains came from the successful experience in the private-public partnership in the services between Karachi and Lahore.”

Under the setup, private companies will be responsible for selling tickets and they will pay a fixed amount from the fares to the Railways. “This privatisation will not affect the railway staff as some aspects of the trains’ operation will still be with the Pakistan Railways,” he said. The private party will also recondition the old coaches for these trains.



Rizvi said that public-private partnership is a win-win situation as it is not causing a loss to Pakistan Railways and passengers are getting more facilities since the firms have money to invest on the trains.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2013.