Lahore: According to Railways Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique Pakistan Railways (PR) would be needing $35b for complete revamp and uplift of its infrastructure. He gave this statement while talking in a press conference held on Thursday. And Rafique also admitted that the $10b investment coming from CPEC won’t be fully helpful in restoring and revamping PR.
While presiding over the press conference, Saad Rafique mentioned that Pakistan Railways was using outdated technology for its operations which was 100 years old and the organization itself was incorporated 157 years ago. He said, “Previous governments failed to upgrade the railways network and in fact, people looted most out of this sector”. And per the minister, revenue growth wasn’t enough to ensure the revamp of PR, since 74pc of the salary is allocated for employees’ salaries and 15.75pc was spent on fuel cost. Rafique added that PR had earned revenues of Rs36b in the last financial year.
Multiple agreements have been signed by Pakistan Railways with the Chinese ministry of transportation to upgrade the ML-I which includes the Peshawar-Karachi railway track. The investment in this project would be around $10b, includes the doubling of track for speedier transportation of goods as well as passengers. Aside the upgradation of railway tracks, this project will also include the renovation of Lahore Railway and Karachi Cantonment railway stations.
