Pakistan Railways increases freight charges

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways (PR) has announced increase in freight charges of all goods’ trains by 3 per cent.

The 3pc increase in the freight charges has been announced in the wake of increase in diesel prices, according to PR notification.

However, the 3% hike in freight rates would not be applicable to steel coils, petroleum products, line haul cost, line management cost, shunting charges, demurrage and destination charges.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has reached a record high in revenue, with the organization reporting earnings of Rs 88 billion at the end of the financial year 2023-24.

During the last year, the revenue of Pakistan Railways increased to more than Rs 88 billion, up from the previous Rs 63 billion, marking a 40 percent increase in revenue compared to the last financial year.

Such revenue has never been recorded in the history of Pakistan Railways.

Initially, the government set a revenue target of Rs 73 billion for the department at the beginning of the financial year.

The department earned Rs 47 billion from passenger trains, Rs 28 billion from goods vehicles, and more than Rs 13 billion from land and other sources.