Karachi, Rawalpindi railway property to be outsourced, says Swati

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Railways, Azam Khan Swati, on Monday said that not even a single inch of railway land would be sold but it can be outsourced under the public-private partnership for generating revenue.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the minister said the property of Pakistan Railways was a precious asset of the country, which would be utilized properly to turn the department into a profitable organization. He said the Pakistan Railways would hold a presentation to attract investors to launch projects under the public private partnership on April 1 at Governor's House, Karachi. Similarly, it was making efforts to outsource its land in the Rawalpindi Division for which a presentation would be held at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on March 26 in which investors are likely to participate, he said.

The minister said that corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement had destroyed the Pakistan Railways and now according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the department would introduce automation process. “We are focusing on digitalization of Pakistan Railways and within one month, the ticketing system will be shifted to smart phones,” he said. He said all the main railway stations under the public private partnership projects and with the help of Frontier Works Organization would be transformed and made business hubs like international railway stations.

Swati claimed that the rehabilitation work of the railway tracks was also underway to avoid accidents and make the rail journey safe and sound. To a question, he said Pakistan Railways would outsource the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club to generate revenue and thanked the Chief Justice of Supreme Court for deciding the case on merit.

Azam Swati further said strict action in accordance with the law would be taken against corrupt and negligent officials who failed to fulfill their official responsibilities. The minister said the labor unions are not a hurdle in the progress and prosperity of the Pakistan Railways, adding a housing project would be completed soon for the welfare of labourers. “No worker of the Pakistan Railways will be sacked and all possible steps will be taken for their welfare,” the minister assured. The minister said the Pakistan Railways would pursue all the 1,500 pending cases in NAB and added a special cell was set up in the department to address around 2,500 pending inquiries on priority basis.

Regarding the Main Line-I, Swati said all the documents have been completed to float its tender and the prime minister was taking keen interest to launch it within the shortest-possible time.

He said the Pakistan Railways was imparting training to around 10,000 security personnel, including 4,000 Chinese and 6,000 Pakistanis, to make the security of ML-I foolproof. The Pakistan Railways was also making efforts to revive a tourist train from Peshawar to Torkham, which would be run under the public private partnership, he said and added, the railways was also planning to restore the track between Mandra to Chakwal.