Railways Ministry spent Rs86bn on different projects last year: NA body told

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Railways has spent 86 billion rupees on different projects last year, ARY News reported.

This was told during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by MNA Muhammad Moeen Wattoo in Islamabad.

Officials of the Railways Ministry told the forum that pensioners were issued Rs30. 96 bn, while Rs26 bn were spent on salaries of the employees.

The railways officials said Rs14 bn were spent on buying oil for trains and more than Rs6 bn spent on repairing of trains last year.

On March 16, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had said that Pakistan Railways recorded an increase of three billion rupees in the revenue during last six months.

Read More: Pakistan Railway’s revenue grows by Rs 3bn in last six months

Speaking to media at Karachi Cantt Railway Station, he had claimed Pakistan Railways made great progress in past six months owing to hard work of its officers and labourers.

“We are laying a new track for which an agreement will be signed with China during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Beijing,” he had said.

Rasheed had further said Pakistan Railways had the capability to construct freight trains. “VIP trains are also being introduced to decrease the deficit of the department, and in this regard Sir Syed Express and Jinnah Express would soon be launched,” the minister had added.