TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: The up-gradation of Pakistan Railway (PR) project Main Line-1 (Karachi-Peshawar) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework is vital for revival of railways, said caretaker Minister for Railways Roshan Khursheed Bharucha.

“Though a lot of work has been done in railways, a lot of work is still needed to be done,” said the caretaker minister for railways while talking to media at Rawalpindi Railway Station on Wednesday. She visited the railway station to hear public complaints.

The minister admitted that a lot of work has been done for the improvement of railways during the previous government’s tenure while saying, “I tell you from my heart that former Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has improved railways during his tenure.” However she urged for continuation of his good work as it would further improve railways.

The minister said that condition of many railway stations and trains was improved during the tenure of last Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government. She said the positive initiatives taken by the last government to reform PR should be continued. However, Bharucha underlined the need for undertaking work on Main Line-1, which is part of the CPEC.

The minister said that some locomotives and coaches are obsolete and there is dire need to replace them with new ones. The minister further said that she traveled by train from Peshawar to Karachi and observed improvement at almost all railways stations. Although some issues exist, yet even bogies have been improved, she added. She further said that the Senate chairman traveled by train twice and stated that it was found better than expectation.

The minister further said that railways police should be facilitated and improved and “we have proud of them. We increased their salaries despite the fact that PR is facing losses.”

The minister further said that PR pays pension from its own resources. She further said that PR land should not be given to anyone without any reason and even if its land is leased out, control should remain with the PR.

Bharucha was also briefed about Rawalpindi Railway Division at DS Office, Rawalpindi.

She appreciated railway officers’ performance. The minister was told about organizational setup of Rawalpindi Division. Abdul Malik, DS Rawalpindi, told about bridges and level crossings in the division. About 10 unmanned level crossings were manned in Rawalpindi Division during the current year. She was told that 46 trains are run in the division on daily basis. A freight train is run from Attock Refinery to Muzaffargarh. Even 97% to 98% punctuality of train is observed at this division. The passengers also use e-ticketing for reservation.

The minister was further informed that Rawalpindi division generates revenue through passenger trains, freight train, stalls, car parking, commercial and agricultural land and billboards on PR land.

Almost 38 locomotives are used in this division. It also contains carriage and wagon depots in Rawalpindi, Lala Musa, Sargodha and Malakwal. Havelian dry port also comes under it. This dry port is very much important for the CPEC.

The minister appreciated the neat and clean ambience of Rawalpindi Railway Station.

Later she also listened to the complaints of general public and directed DS Rawalpindi to resolve their issues.

The minister also visited Golra Railway Museum. The briefing was also attended by Raza Ali, DCO, Viqarun Nisa, DPO, Syed Mualam, DEN, and M Nasir, Deputy CME.