LAHORE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique announced to raise the fares of Pakistan Railways after the increase in the prices of petroleum products.
Addressing a news conference at PR headquarters, the minister said fares of freight trains would be increased by 15 percent and 10 percent of passenger trains.
He said that during the tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the pace of revenue generation remained slow while the railway’s deficit increased.
He said that when in past, he was incharge of Pakistan Railways, revenue was Rs 8 billion and the deficit was more than Rs32 billion. In 2018 when the PML-N government was ousted, the railway income had been increased from Rs18 billion to Rs50 billion and deficit was Rs36.6 billion, he added.
“Now when he again came back the revenue of the department is Rs53.35 billion while deficit has crossed Rs 37 billion and unfortunately deficit will further increase upto Rs43-45 billion,” he said.
He said that Railway Construction Pakistan (RAILCOP) was earning profit of Rs 400 million but last year it made a loss of Rs9 million, adding that other companies of the department were also not in good form. He further said that decisions had been made in the railways ministry bypassing the PR headquarters.
Saad Rafique said that Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) was given to railways and previous ministers should tell the progress was made on ML-1 project.
He said the previous government did nothing for Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) and the cost increased from $6.8 billion dollars to $9.8 billion. He further said that 21 to 22 power vans were out of order.
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He added that railway’s stance on its land was not defended properly in the court and the punctuality of trains were badly disturbed besides poor cleanliness.
He said there was no other way except taking burden which the PML-N government took on its shoulders.
“If we have not taken this burden and proceeded towards elections in that scenario no international financial institution was ready to hold talks with any caretaker government.”
He said gang-rape victim of Zakaria Express would be given job in railways and train operator would bear the expenses of her lawyer.
He said she might get some financial assistance on monthly basis. He said that all out efforts would be made so that justice prevails in the incident.
He further said that oil conservation would be ensured by all means. The railways minister said that in coming few days matters related to PIA and Aviation would also be discussed with the media.
He said that merit policy had been enforced again in the department and no appointment would be made on political basis.
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