Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati has expressed his commitment to switch over to locally manufactured components of locomotives instead of spending huge foreign exchange on the import of these parts from different countries.
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) on Wednesday, the minister observed that the locomotive parts produced in Pakistan were not inferior to the international standards.
“This will ease the foreign exchange pressure, as trade deficit of the country continues to widen,” he said.
Swati revealed that Pakistan Railways (PR) was planning to bring more than 400 grounded coaches and wagons on track over the next few months.
PR was taking all-out measures to increase its revenue and “become a profitable institution”, he underlined.
“PR is revamping different railway stations including the historic Lahore station,” he pointed out and said that it was planning to establish facilitation centres across the country.
The entire railway network would be monitored through the minister’s office, he underlined.
Swati expressed his commitment to tackle all impediments and traditional bottlenecks for making PR profitable.
Agreeing with the proposal of Paapam delegation, he underlined that the prequalification of vendors of potential manufacturers was necessary to ensure better quality and a transparent mechanism.
The minister invited the Paapam delegation next week to seek ways for engaging in public-private partnership.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2022.
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