Pakistan Railways crosses Rs100 billion revenue mark, targets Rs160 billion: minister

Pakistan Railways has crossed the Rs100 billion revenue mark for the first time in its history and is targeting Rs160 billion, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said on Monday.

Pakistan Railways has crossed the Rs100 billion revenue mark for the first time in its history and is targeting Rs160 billion, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said on Monday.

Speaking at a ceremony in Rawalpindi to inaugurate 11 refurbished coaches of the Awam Express, Abbasi said the train had previously been in poor condition but had now been upgraded.

He said further improvements to other trains were being considered, adding that operational problems affecting the Karakoram and Millat Express services had also been resolved.

Abbasi said Pakistan Railways was moving towards greater private-sector involvement, including outsourcing some services. Railway hospitals would also be outsourced, he said, while employees would continue to receive free medical treatment.

The minister said the railway was developing projects in consultation with provincial governments. He added that agreements had been reached with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to restore services on branch lines.

He said four branch-line routes would be restored during the current year and another four in the next financial year. Sindh could also benefit from the initiative if its government wanted to reactivate services on provincial branch lines.