Khan, while chairing a briefing at the railways ministry yesterday, also directed Pakistan Railways to plan the future utilisation of its land to generate revenue.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and other senior ministry officials attended the briefing.
Railways Secretary Mohammad Javed Anwar gave a detailed briefing on Pakistan Railways and the various measures taken to turn the organisation into a sustainable and profitable venture.
He also revealed that the thousands of acres of Railways land, worth billions of rupees, have been encroached upon.
Minister Ahmed also visited the Rawalpindi Railway Station on Friday to examine the kinds of facilities provided to passengers and inspect the Mianwali Rail Car.
He told the press that a new track will be laid from Quetta to Gwadar to increase business activity and connect the port city to the main line.
The minister said that Pakistan Railways would expand its existing network to reach remote parts of the country with the help of China Railways.
“We are all set to bring about a revolution in the railway sector with China’s help,” he said, adding that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor has the ministry’s full support.
Ahmed said that he has also discussed the encroachment of Pakistan Railways land across the country with the prime minister, and said the land will be reclaimed soon.
He said that the deadline to turn Pakistan Railways into a profitable organisation is the end of December, with work already begun to overcome its Rs42bn deficit.
Few people in Pakistan Railways are corrupt, the minister stressed, adding that most officials are hardworking.
Ahmed added that the federal government would not tolerate any corruption.
He said that the government will keep an eye on the services and facilities for the people, and warned that officials who fail to provide facilities to the public will face action.
“I will inspect the facilities provided to passengers on trains and in railway stations in surprise visits, and even in different guises,” Ahmed said.
“We are trying not to increase fares, but reduce them further while running for trains on different routes,” he said, adding that economy class trains will be upgraded further by next summer.
Two new trains launched yesterday which, the minister said, were prepared within 20 days.
He also announced that the 30 labourers who worked day and night towards the launching of the trains would be given Rs5,000 each.
Ahmed also announced that the Leh Nullah Express project will be revived, with the Frontier Works Organisation to start working on it soon.
The Rs20bn project for the construction of an expressway from Moti Mehal to 9th Avenue dates back to 2006.
It was inaugurated by former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, but work stopped under the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government in Punjab.
While briefing the minister, Pakistan Railways officials said that the Mianwali Rail Car, which was launched yesterday, comprises seven passenger coaches that were made at the Islamabad Carriage Factory in record time.
The preparation cost was Rs8.5mn.
The fare for the train is Rs260 per passenger from Rawalpindi to Mianwali, and Rs320 from Rawalpindi to Kundian.
Tickets will be at half price for the first three days.
China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) general manager Wang Xiaofeng also called on Minister Ahmed at the railways ministry yesterday.
They discussed matters of mutual co-operation, and the minister asked Wang for concrete proposals for the development of Pakistan Railways.
“Pakistan and China enjoy cordial relations, and all good proposals from the CHEC will be welcomed,” Ahmed said.
The CHEC has shown interest in working with Pakistan Railways on a “build-operate-transfer” basis for the construction of an inland container depot (dry port) at the Marshalling Yard Pipri and the rehabilitation of railway lines in Karachi Port and Marshalling Yard Pipri.
The Chinese delegation has also shown interest in using Pakistan’s railway network to operate shuttle freight trains to transport on containers between the Karachi Port and Marshalling Yard Pipri.
