Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati on Tuesday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Railways that electricity worth Rs2 billion was being pilfered annually from Pakistan Railways (PR) and blamed a “state enterprise mafia” within the railways for the sorry condition of the national institution.
The committee met here under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Qasim.
While reviewing details of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP)’s tentative allocation of Rs35 billion for 2022-23, Swati urged the committee to fully support the PSDP in order to revive the PR.
If the provinces played their part, he noted, the sector could be revolutionized spreading business and trade opportunities far and wide.
The minister noted that a “state-owned enterprise mafia” was wreaking havoc on the railways by contributing to its deficit and exploiting its resources. Besides, he lamented that the tender for more than 1,500 trains was being awarded to only one man.
Swati proposed that the ministry could tap commercial resources of the railway stations by building hotels, hostels and markets on unused stations to strengthen its finances.
“There are stations in Narowal, Okara, Hasan Abdal. They are not being used. What should be done with these railway stations?” he asked and urged the members of the Senate and the National Assembly committees to visit the seven railway stations to make recommendations for the commercial activities.
The body was informed of plans to develop the Afghan-Pakistan transit trade route, adding that tourism would be enhanced if historical railway routes and stations were brought back to life.
Read More: Pakistan Railways to upgrade cargo services
Discussing the Rs220 billion Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project, he informed that once completed, the project would revolutionize domestic travel in the metropolis. He told that seed the money has been arranged while the completion of the project would take 36 months.
The committee was further informed that PR would dynamically pursue the expansion of routes and take them beyond borders, adding it was planning to take initiatives aiming at developing the Chaman-Kandahar route and the Havelian-Kashghar route to promote international trade.
The panel lauded the ministry's steps to reform the railways despite the lack of financial resources and assured it of its complete support.
"The theft of electricity can be prevented by installing over 54,000 meters," the minister suggested.
He urged the government of Balochistan to provide Rs15 billion for the restoration of the Taftan-Quetta track remaining to be spent by the federal government that would help to put the provincial government on the path of progress and prosperity.
The minister said the Balochistan government would show responsibility for the cargo train on the Taftan-Chaman track, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government was restoring the old track from Peshawar to Torkham.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman Senate, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Dost Muhammad Khan, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and senior officers of the Ministry of Railways along with all concerned.
The body also ratified Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman as a member of the Railway Advisory Committee.
(With Input from APP)
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ