Fuel and salaries: Railways given Rs2b to avert crisis

sources say railways officials have been told to improve their efficiency and raise funds on their own.

ISLAMABAD:

The government is learnt to have released Rs2 billion to avert an imminent crisis in Pakistan Railways. Senior finance ministry officials told The Express Tribune that railway officials had sent a summary for immediate approval, urging the government to release Rs3.5 billion for fuel and workers’ salaries, adding that after due consideration, the ministry had released Rs2 billion on an emergency basis to avert a crisis.

However, sources said, railways officials have been told to improve their efficiency and raise funds on their own. Meanwhile, railway officials has allowed 37-Up/38-Down Farid Express, which runs between Lahore and Karachi via Kasur and Pakpattan to make a two-minute stopover at Murid Chishti station.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st,  2011.