F.P. Report
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that foreign investment would have to be secured to increase Pakistan Railways’ revenue.
“We have no control over pensions and salaries,” he said. “Every year pensions and salaries of employees are increased.”
The federal minister was speaking during the inauguration ceremony of new coaches into the Khyber Mail in Rawalpindi Saturday.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said that Pakistan Railways’ income was Rs 18b while its losses exceeded Rs 30b. He said that by the end of this year, railways would earn Rs 50b while its losses would amount to Rs 35b.
“Losses will increase only by Rs 3b while our revenue would increase by Rs 18b,” he said. He said that the only solution to decreasing losses was to increase Pakistan Railways’ revenue. For that to happen, Saad Rafique said that it was important to bring foreign investment.
He said that people had not forgiven the ‘sacred cows’ in the past hence he was just an ordinary person who needed to do his best as the federal minister.
In response to a question, Saad Rafique said that he did not want to comment on every decision given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The minister said the addition of new coaches is part of a up gradation program of Pakistan Railways initiated by the incumbent government. He said more coaches will be added to trains next month.
The Minister said the PML (N) government has been working to bring improvement in Pakistan Railways since its inception.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said railways revenue has risen up to fifty billion rupees which is a major achievement.
