SAFDAR RASHEED

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that neither the privatisation of the Pakistan Railway nor any increase in fares is under consideration.

“A coal transportation agreement with a Chinese company for the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant (1,320 megawatts) has great importance and the Pakistan Railway will get Rs 13 billion per year from this particular project,” he told reporters at the Pakistan Railway Headquarter on Monday after signing ceremony of coal transportation between the Pakistan Railway Freight Transportation Company and the Chinese Company operating the plant. He further said, “This power plant having a capacity of 1,320 megawatts is part of the Economic Corridor and has a far-reaching impact on the progress and prosperity of the country as well as the nation. There is no hurdle to the Economic Corridor after consensus by all political parties but it is not digestible for anti-state elements living in the foreign lands.” In response to a question, he said a tender for the purchase of 55 American locomotives was in the final process which would be used for the transpiration of coal and in the Economic Corridor approximately $4 billion had been set aside for the rail restructure on the modern lines.

He added Rs45 billon was demanded in the upcoming budget for the Public Sector Development Programme but initially Rs 41 billon would be expected. “Up to 80 percent out of Rs 41 billion will be spent on the current development projects and 20 percent of the allocated budget on the new development projects,” he added. The ceremony also drew in Rail Chairman Perven Agha, Chief Executive Officer Muahammad Javed Anwer, Adviser Anjum Pervez, Finance Member Gulam Mustafa, Freight Transportation Company Managing Director Zafar Zaman Ranjha, Punjab Additional Chief Secretary of Energy Doctor Jehanzaib Khan and representatives of the Chinese Company.