Work on ML-1 to kick off by Dec this year

ML-1 to be completed in phases to outsource 22 trains

LAHORE:

Pakistan Railways (PR) Chief Executive Officer Amir Ali Baloch on Thursday said the government had given the nod to Main Line-1 (ML-1) and work on the project would be launched by November or December this year.

“The ML-1 will be completed in phases,” Baloch told The Express Tribune.

He hoped that the ML-1 project would help the Railways in standing on its own feet.

The PR is preparing and finalising its flagship project in three phases as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Baloch continued that the PR was increasing its revenue by running passenger and goods trains.

“We will outsource 22 trains that provide maximum facilities to the passengers.”

However, he clarified that only those companies would be chosen for the outsourcing that met the criteria set by the PR. Baloch pledged to take up the revenue of the PR to Rs110 billion.

He noted that the government had given the PR a grant of Rs62 billion but it was spent on paying the pensions.

The PR CEO added that the Railways’ pensions had increased from Rs12 billion to Rs62 billion.

He attributed the frequent incidents of trains derailing to some very old tracks.

Talking about reforms, the PR CEO said its employees would pay their electricity bills themselves.

“Around 19,000 new [power] meters have been installed.”

Earlier, the Railways puchased electricity in bulk and provide it at cheaper prices to its employees.

However, now meters have been installed at the house of every PR employee.

The PR CEO highlighted that they were upgrading the railway system at ports across the country.

Baloch announced plans to use solar energy to save costs and said a tender for this purpose had already been floated.

The PR CEO maintained that neighbouring India spent $29 billion on its railways every year.