Panel urges restoration of work on Sibi-Khost rail track
Govt Assurance Committee of Senate summons railways minister for briefing
PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Senate’s Government Assurance Committee on Tuesday summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid, FC and National Logistics Cell (NLC) officials in the next meeting over the issue of non-restoration of 134km railway track on Sibi to Khost section in Balochistan. The committee also directed the Ministry of Law and Justice and establishment division to speed up process to restore the quota system in jobs.
The panel, headed by Senator Mohammad Tahir Bizenjo, discussed the issue of non-restoration of a 134-km railway track on the Sibi-Khost section. Railway officials informed committee that the operation on the railway track was suspended in 2006 after seven bridges were blown up by explosives and rocket attacks, following which five more bridges were damaged by floods and other disasters.
They said that NLC was given the contract of 2.11 billion for restoration of tracks and work was started in March 2016 which was supposed to be completed in March 2018. They told that except for one bridge, restoration work has been completed.
“The matter is pending due to the security issue, if the FC and Levies give protection, the work will be completed within 90 days,” they said, adding that the FC has demanded Rs2.5 million for the security of the track.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Usman Kakar said Sheikh Rashid had earlier stated that this project would be completed by March 18 but it has not been finished until now and instead they are being told that there is a security issue.
“Sheikh Rashid had said he would talk to the Southern Command on the security issue. Security is being provided for private mining and if it could be given for that purpose, why not for this then,” he inquired.
Chairman Committee said that the project is with the NLC; hence they should not have any problem as they have all the arrangements.
The committee has summoned railways minister and NLC officials in the next meeting to provide details on the difficulties being faced in the completion of the project.
The committee also discussed the provincial quota issue in jobs.
Earlier, Pakistan Railways said it has completed around 95 percent work on rehabilitation and restoration of Sibi-Khost section of the rail track.
An official in the Ministry of Railways said that over 132 kilometres long track between Sibi-Harnai had been completed while the rest would be completed soon.
He said the project was in progress under Public Sector Development Programme through National Logistics Cell.
The official said that rehabilitation of bridges; railway stations and short embankments have also been completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2020.
Senate’s Government Assurance Committee on Tuesday summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid, FC and National Logistics Cell (NLC) officials in the next meeting over the issue of non-restoration of 134km railway track on Sibi to Khost section in Balochistan. The committee also directed the Ministry of Law and Justice and establishment division to speed up process to restore the quota system in jobs.
The panel, headed by Senator Mohammad Tahir Bizenjo, discussed the issue of non-restoration of a 134-km railway track on the Sibi-Khost section. Railway officials informed committee that the operation on the railway track was suspended in 2006 after seven bridges were blown up by explosives and rocket attacks, following which five more bridges were damaged by floods and other disasters.
They said that NLC was given the contract of 2.11 billion for restoration of tracks and work was started in March 2016 which was supposed to be completed in March 2018. They told that except for one bridge, restoration work has been completed.
“The matter is pending due to the security issue, if the FC and Levies give protection, the work will be completed within 90 days,” they said, adding that the FC has demanded Rs2.5 million for the security of the track.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Usman Kakar said Sheikh Rashid had earlier stated that this project would be completed by March 18 but it has not been finished until now and instead they are being told that there is a security issue.
“Sheikh Rashid had said he would talk to the Southern Command on the security issue. Security is being provided for private mining and if it could be given for that purpose, why not for this then,” he inquired.
Chairman Committee said that the project is with the NLC; hence they should not have any problem as they have all the arrangements.
The committee has summoned railways minister and NLC officials in the next meeting to provide details on the difficulties being faced in the completion of the project.
The committee also discussed the provincial quota issue in jobs.
Earlier, Pakistan Railways said it has completed around 95 percent work on rehabilitation and restoration of Sibi-Khost section of the rail track.
An official in the Ministry of Railways said that over 132 kilometres long track between Sibi-Harnai had been completed while the rest would be completed soon.
He said the project was in progress under Public Sector Development Programme through National Logistics Cell.
The official said that rehabilitation of bridges; railway stations and short embankments have also been completed.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2020.