Shalimar express: Privatisation to bring Rs510m annually

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways will earn Rs510 million annually from privatisation of Shalimar Express train, according to a PR official. The train that runs between Lahore and Karachi daily would be restored by the private sector from January. Ticket reservation and checking system responsibility of the train would be given to the private sector Pakistan Railways Workers’ Union Chairman Manzoor Ahmed Razi criticised the decision and said that the move would further increase the deficit of Pakistan Railways.  “What kind of a deal is this when PR would be providing diesel, locomotives and staff and they would make profit only by selling tickets”, he questioned.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th,  2011.