Saad Rafique resolves to revamp century old railway system

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday expressed resolve to revamp century old railway system to turn it into an exalted institute.

“Pakistan Railways may increase its role as regulator so that process of providing travelling facilities to passengers can be made easy, fast and comprehensive,” he said while addressing a high-level meeting at Railway Headquarters on the progress of running rail car between Rawalpindi and Kohat.

He said after World War II, no investment and value addition had happened on Railways in our region.

“But now we cannot live with this century old system. Pakistan Railways is not only being reinstated but it will fulfill the requirements of an outstanding railway and will make an exalted institution. Either due to thousand billion rupees investment under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) or due to the profit of railways, that has surpassed two times, the time has come to fulfill the dream of up-to-date railways,” he said.

Saad Rafique said that vast changes were going to be brought in rail service in Sindh, especially between Mirpur Khas and Hyderabad, while it is being extended to Karachi as well. The work on Sibi and Harnai section is also on pace, he added.

The railways minister was also briefed that the Rawalpindi Kohat section is also going to be fixed along with construction of Kohat Railway Station which will be completed in three to four months. Saad asked to expedite the work of maintenance.

He also asked to use new bogies of rail cars between Rawalpindi and Kohat, and the fare shall be less than the road transport, so a gift can be given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa public as being promised by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

During the meeting, the minister was briefed about the speed, time and facilities of trains, which run between big cities.

He also added that it’s the time that in accordance with modern and developed countries, Pakistan Railways may increase its role as regulator so that process, of providing travelling facilities to passengers, can be made easy, fast and comprehensive.

The meeting was also attended by Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Javed Anwar, General Manager Infrastructure Humayun Rashid, Additional GM Traffic Abdul Hamid Razi, GM Mechanical Ansar Billah, CMM Naveed Mubashar, COPS Waqar Shahid and other officers.