Railways to shift freight head office to Karachi

Will introduce 20 trains each for freight, passenger services this year

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced on Friday that the head office of Pakistan Railways' freight department would be shifted to Karachi.

Talking to media following the inauguration of a freight train under public-private partnership arrangement, the minister stressed that the railways service was crucial for economic development of any country.

"It is also a vital component of a nation's transport and communications system," underlined the minister. "Hence, it ought to be efficient and affordable."

Disclosing that 20 freight trains along with 20 passenger trains would be introduced in the current year, Ahmed said a mechanism had already been established to make them sustainable ventures with zero compromise on the quality of service.

He reaffirmed that an efficient railway service could also help address the growing challenge of pollution, which severely affected public health besides deteriorating the environment.



With particular reference to freight trains, the minister told the media that cargo services would help Pakistan Railways gain financial stability, which would ultimately strengthen the passenger train service.

"The federal government is committed to facilitating the masses and hence three different categories of passenger train services are being introduced," he revealed.

Mentioning that the rail passenger occupancy rate had increased by 25% in the past four months, he said a fare of Rs1,350 had been introduced for Karachi-Peshawar and termed it very low.

"We are working on introducing a VVIP non-stop eight-hour train service," said the federal minister, hinting that it may begin from March 23 this year.



Moreover, Ahmed claimed that all available assets of Pakistan Railways would be reactivated and attention would be paid to railway lines, carriageways, engines and locomotive factories which, at one point in time, were major sources of foreign exchange earnings for the country.

Replying to a question, he shared that passenger and freight train services were being introduced in partnership with the private sector and absolute transparency was being ensured while approving the bids.

Regarding the Karachi Circular Railway, he said its feasibility was done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) at the time when he had the portfolio of railways.

The opportunity was missed, he regretted, but the present government revived it under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Emphasising that the scheme was direly needed in Karachi, he said the project would definitely be implemented during the current government's tenure.