Instead of NLC: Senate panel wants army to use railways service

Panel says it will boost freight revenue and save highways from deterioration

ISLAMABAD:

A senate panel has recommended Pakistan army to use railways freight service for transporting its goods rather than using National Logistic Cell (NLC).

The proposal came at a meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Railways chaired by Senator Mohammad Ali Rind.

This strategy, the committee observed, will not only help in increasing the railways revenue but will also save the highways from destruction due to heavy loads.

Earlier, railways officials told the committee that since the establishment of NLC, Pakistan army has not been using freight service except for transporting heavy vehicles.

“Now the freight train is the second option for Pakistan army for transporting goods,” said Pakistan Railways’ general manager operation.

“Pakistan army should not launch its own transport service in areas where the railways’ freight service is already available,” said Senator Taj Haider.

He said highways and motorways are badly damaged due to the heavy vehicles used by the NLC and National Highways Authority (NHA) and provincial governments have to spend billions of rupees annually on their maintenance.

Senator Jalil seconded Senator Taj Haider and said such initiative would also be helpful in enhancing revenue of the cash-starved railways.

Train to Kashmir

Railways officials also told the committee that the government had decided to lay a 110KM rail track from Islamabad to Muzzaffarabad on the directives of PM Nawaz Sharif.

An autonomous company,  Kashmir Railways Private Ltd,  will run the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2014.