Senate standing committee: Railways minister asks for 400 locomotives
Billions of rupees needed to get Pakistan Railways back on track, panel told.
LAHORE:
The Senate standing committee on Pakistan Railways (PR) met on Monday, discussing the troubles with PR in general but with a particular focus on the rehabilitation of locomotives.
The committee, chaired by Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, was informed that billions of rupees were required to repair the locomotives, maintain tracks, improve coaches and keep strategic reserves for diesel purchases.
Saeed Akhtar, the general manager of PR, told the committee that the railways currently employs 80,000 people, with 140,000 pensioners. However, he said that funds are low and salaries and pensions are at perpetual risk.
Senator Naseeb suggested ways to improve and modernise PR. He asked the officials to come up with a comprehensive approach to improve operational efficiency and financial viability. Referring again to locomotives, the committee said that there were no cases anywhere in the world where maintenance costs much more than the actual purchase of an item.
The committee urged the officials to repair the locomotives with expertise from within Pakistan. The committee also pressed for a “time frame” for the rehabilitation of PR, expressing hope for it to be an independent organisation. The federal government was also urged to release funds to meet the running expenses of PR.
Bilour demands locomotives to get PR back on track
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, the federal minister for railways, asked the Senate standing committee for 400 locomotives; he also criticised the finance ministry for not releasing the proposed bailout package funds for PR.
Bilour told the committee that without sufficient locomotives it was impossible to run a railway service. He added that if the announced bailout package of Rs11 billion had been released on schedule, PR would be looking at a totally different scenario.
Bilour also complained that PR pays Rs4 billion in interest on loans already taken. He said that no one is ready to give a two-year guarantee for repaired locomotives but “we are operating 30 year-old locomotives”.
According to the federal minister, the railways were not provided with funds despite repeated assurances from the government. He also said that PR had planned to rehabilitate the locomotives with loans provided by banks, whereas with government funds PR will rehabilitate tracks, coaches and other infrastructure.
Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said that it appeared Bilour had no authority over the ministry. He said that Bilour should talk to the prime minister in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2011.
The Senate standing committee on Pakistan Railways (PR) met on Monday, discussing the troubles with PR in general but with a particular focus on the rehabilitation of locomotives.
The committee, chaired by Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, was informed that billions of rupees were required to repair the locomotives, maintain tracks, improve coaches and keep strategic reserves for diesel purchases.
Saeed Akhtar, the general manager of PR, told the committee that the railways currently employs 80,000 people, with 140,000 pensioners. However, he said that funds are low and salaries and pensions are at perpetual risk.
Senator Naseeb suggested ways to improve and modernise PR. He asked the officials to come up with a comprehensive approach to improve operational efficiency and financial viability. Referring again to locomotives, the committee said that there were no cases anywhere in the world where maintenance costs much more than the actual purchase of an item.
The committee urged the officials to repair the locomotives with expertise from within Pakistan. The committee also pressed for a “time frame” for the rehabilitation of PR, expressing hope for it to be an independent organisation. The federal government was also urged to release funds to meet the running expenses of PR.
Bilour demands locomotives to get PR back on track
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, the federal minister for railways, asked the Senate standing committee for 400 locomotives; he also criticised the finance ministry for not releasing the proposed bailout package funds for PR.
Bilour told the committee that without sufficient locomotives it was impossible to run a railway service. He added that if the announced bailout package of Rs11 billion had been released on schedule, PR would be looking at a totally different scenario.
Bilour also complained that PR pays Rs4 billion in interest on loans already taken. He said that no one is ready to give a two-year guarantee for repaired locomotives but “we are operating 30 year-old locomotives”.
According to the federal minister, the railways were not provided with funds despite repeated assurances from the government. He also said that PR had planned to rehabilitate the locomotives with loans provided by banks, whereas with government funds PR will rehabilitate tracks, coaches and other infrastructure.
Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said that it appeared Bilour had no authority over the ministry. He said that Bilour should talk to the prime minister in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2011.