PM approves railways’ restructuring

Four new companies will be set up to oversee different functions of Pakistan Railways

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the restructuring of Pakistan Railways, under which four new companies will be set up and functions of freight, passenger traffic and infrastructure will be separated to steer the rail company out of losses and turn it into a profitable enterprise.

The restructuring of Pakistan Railways is planned to be completed in four months.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of Railways had prepared a detailed restructuring plan, which was approved by the prime minister. Under the plan, four new companies will be established to separate different functions of Pakistan Railways.

The government will set up Railways Holding Company to deal with and manage overall affairs of Pakistan Railways. Separately, Freight Traffic Management Company will be established, which will be solely responsible for handling freight traffic of the railways.

The government will also set up Passenger Traffic Management Company, which will deal with passenger affairs. Another company namely Infrastructure Management Company will be formed, which will be given the task of handling the railway infrastructure.

Railway board

As part of the restructuring plan, the government has decided to extend the scope of Pakistan Railways’ board by bringing members from the private sector for making innovation in policymaking.

The process of appointing board members from the private sector will be completed in two months.

The headquarters of Pakistan Railways is being strengthened as the government has planned to bring technical experts to improve the system.

Four management pay (MP) scale posts have been created for technical experts in this regard. A new IT system is being developed and public-private partnership based projects are being launched.

Earlier, the prime minister said ML-1 (Main Line One) was an important project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and gave directives for completing the restructuring of Pakistan Railways keeping the ML-1 project in view so as to create maximum opportunities for partnership with the private sector. Railway secretary briefed the premier about the restructuring of Pakistan Railways, automation and digitalisation, better management of assets, progress on ML-1 project, participation of private sector and various projects of the rail company.

Regarding electronic ticketing, arrangements are being made to ensure the sale of tickets to a maximum number of passengers at their doorsteps.

The government has given special attention to the electronic ticketing system as at present 60% of booking is being made online.

It is striving to lift Pakistan Railways out of losses and make it a profitable concern. The railway provides a secure and cheap mode of transportation to the people.

So far, two train services have been handed over to the private sector whereas 15 others will be run with public-private partnership.

Similarly, two goods trains are being run under the public-private partnership model and two more will be handed over to the private sector. In a bid to ensure the best use of railway assets, the record of all assets is being digitalised. About 25 places have been identified, which will be utilised through joint ventures to increase the income of Pakistan Railways.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2020.

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