Pakistan Railways: ‘Upgrades to increase revenue by Rs3 billion’

Railways minister inaugurates refurbished diesel locomotive.

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique said on Saturday that the induction of refurbished diesel locomotives would enable the department to increase yearly revenue by Rs3 billion.

He was speaking to journalists after attending the induction ceremony of the locomotive. The locomotive is the sixth to be refurbished out of the 27 German-made locomotives owned by Pakistan Railways (PR). Rafique said the locomotives were being refurbished to increase the department’s operational capacity. He said the project would be completed by the end of the year. Rafique said this would enable PR to increase yearly revenue by Rs3 billion. He said the locomotives would remain in use for 15 years. Rafique said the locomotives would be equipped with black boxes. The minister said the number of freight train services each month would soon be increased to 350.  Rafique said the agreement between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on the scope of a judicial commission to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 elections would boost public confidence in the electoral process. He said all political parties had consented to the conduction of the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.

Rafique said even the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had asked the city to be cleansed of illegal weapons and criminal elements.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2015.