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Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Balochistan train service resumes
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has announced that train services to and from Balochistan, which were suspended after the attack on Jaffar Express, will resume from March 27 (today). The terrorists used explosives to stop the train and also sprayed bullets from both sides, breaking window glasses and causing other damages as well. The engineers of Pakistan Railways have been working to repair the damaged track. Moreover, the railway authorities in Quetta have decided to send passenger coaches and locomotives damaged in the attack to Lahore for repair. Jaffer Express is scheduled to depart from Peshawar to Quetta tomorrow, with the return journey from Quetta to Peshawar taking place the following day. To accommodate passengers during Eid, a special train will leave Quetta on March 29, and a 20% discount will be offered on tickets for Eid days. Additionally, Bolan Express, which previously ran twice a week, will now operate daily to enhance railway connectivity in the province. The number of passenger trains in Balochistan is also being increased from three to nine to improve travel facilities. Addressing security concerns at railway stations, the minister stated that 500 new personnel will be inducted into the Railway Police, with 70% of them from Balochistan. A second phase will see the recruitment of 1,000 more personnel to strengthen railway security. Meanwhile, the Standing Committee on Railways has decided to take in-camera briefing on the terror incident. The committee met under the chairmanship of MNA Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan the other day. The in-camera session was to be held on Tuesday but due to the interior secretary's absence it had to be postponed, with the committee expressing displeasure over his absence. It directed the ministry to ensure his presence in the next meeting for briefing the committee on that incident. Thereafter, the media was allowed to attend the meeting and the other agenda of the meeting was taken up by the committee. The Railway Board secretary briefed the committee about two ongoing mega projects including 'Procurement/manufacturing of 820 high-capacity freight wagons and 230 passenger carriages'; and the 'Thar rail connectivity' project. He apprised the committee that the approved cost for 820 high-capacity wagons was Rs9.481.716 million; however, their revised cost was now Rs17,575.452 million while 390 remaining wagons were expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. The secretary added that the carrying capacity, operational speed, axle and gross loads had been increased of those wagons. He also apprised the committee about the approved cost for 230 passenger coaches which was Rs21,712.275 million but their revised cost had now reached Rs53,392.493 million and the 184 remaining passenger coaches would be completed by June 30, 2027 with improved standard and load capacity. About the Thar Rail Connectivity project, the secretary said the project's admin approval was taken on May 9, 2024 with a total cost of Rs53,726.926 million and the project had to be completed within two years.
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
NA body reviews PR PSDP budget for FY 2025-26
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways on Tuesday scrutinized the budgetary proposals related to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the Ministry of Railways and its attached departments for the Financial Year 2025-26. MNA Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan chaired the committee meeting. The secretary, Ministry of Railways, informed the committee that the ministry had requested Rs65 billion from the PSDP last year. However, the Finance Division approved Rs45 billion, which was subsequently reduced to Rs35 billion.
Express Tribune
05-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Chinese team to finalise ML-1 financial plan
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways was informed on Tuesday a delegation of Chinese experts would visit Pakistan in late February and the financial plan of the Main Line (ML-1) project would be finalised. Then, the work on this project would be started immediately after bidding. The Secretary, Ministry of Railways, provided details on the proposed 1,726-kilometer railway line from Peshawar to Karachi, with a total cost estimated at $6.8 billion. Currently, 34 trains operate on the route, and once ML-1 is complete, 120 trains are expected to run. The project will be implemented in two phases – phase one from Karachi to Multan and phase two from Multan to Peshawar – with a Chinese delegation scheduled to visit Pakistan by the end of February. Additionally, the secretary noted that the railways have 83 rest houses, of which 10 are out of order. According to committee chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, rest houses in Lahore are used by officers from Karachi, and those staying at these facilities often pay out of their own pockets. Committee member Syed Wasim Hussain stressed that questions should be raised only during the agenda, saying, "There is no benefit in questioning after the agenda has ended". He further added that the agenda should include points from all committee members, noting that "having two or three points from a single individual on the agenda is excessive". Meanwhile, the secretary announced that "13 trains have been outsourced," a decision that has improved service quality, with revenue from outsourced trains rising from Rs7 billion to Rs11 billion. "Until the payment for seven days is made, we do not run the train." Fairs An increase in the prices of petroleum products has hit train passengers hard as Pakistan Railways has once again raised passenger train fares by 5%. According to a notification issued by the rail authorities, the fare hike will take effect from February 5. The increase applies across all ticket classes, as well as to salon services and extends to all outsourced trains. The notification has also been sent to all operational chiefs (divisional superintendents) of Lahore, Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta divisions for information and implementation. It also directs the PR's IT director to ensure implementation for advance booking and instructs the DSs to apply the updated fare table at all stations and reservation offices. "To ensure smooth compliance, all booking and reservation offices, as well as station staff, are requested to immediately adopt these updated rates. Any discrepancies noticed by station/commercial staff must be reported to the office of the chief marketing manager and IT director through the concerned divisional commercial officer (DCO) within seven days. Failure to report any discrepancies within this time frame will lead to accountability being placed on the concerned staff," the notification warns. Upgrades and ML-1 plans The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Railways deliberated over the direly needed modernising of railways. With the whole world increasingly embracing electronic rail systems, the secretary of railways announced that a new "contact application" has been developed. This app will enable passengers to book seats and access additional travel information, and when asked about the development cost, the secretary stated that "no expense was incurred". Plans are underway to link all coaches with the contact app within five to six months. In a nod to the past, railway officials recalled that an electric train service was launched in 1979 between Lahore and Khanewal on a 286-kilometre track. However, following the shutdown of the electric train system, wires and poles were reportedly stolen.
