Pakistan Railways freight trains are set to expand, with the department targeting 14 additional services by January. The decision was taken at a meeting in Lahore and responds to demands from the business community. It is meant to increase revenue and improve the department's financial position. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi chaired the meeting at the Railways Headquarters on Friday.
What the meeting decided
Pakistan Railways, the state-run operator of the country's rail network, carries both passengers and goods. Pakistan Railways freight trains were the main item, but the meeting approved several other measures as well. Taken together, the decisions focus on revenue from goods traffic, checks on loads, and the condition of trains.
The meeting approved the establishment of a dry port at Khanewal, a facility where cargo is handled inland rather than at a seaport, to boost freight earnings. It also agreed to install five additional weighbridges across the country by December 31 to curb overloading. Weighbridges are scales that measure the weight of loaded vehicles and wagons.
The minister also decided to discontinue operational meetings at the Railways Headquarters and hold them at the divisional level instead, with the aim of improving efficiency and performance.
Safety, supplies and funding
Train accidents caused by mechanical faults were also discussed. The meeting decided to seek an investigation by the FIA, the Federal Investigation Agency, into train examiners responsible for checking the technical fitness of trains. The department was also directed to phase out DVM and DVS coaches from the system.
Sleeper factories, which produce the sleepers that hold railway tracks in place, were told to run double shifts to raise production. Abbasi also expressed displeasure over delays in buying spare parts for locomotives and coaches, and told officials to speed up the procurement process. Procurement simply means the buying of goods and services.
Separately, Abbasi met Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who assured him that funds for restoring branch railway lines in the province would be released immediately. Branch lines are smaller routes that connect to the main network.
The meeting set January as the deadline for the 14-train target and December 31 for the weighbridges. No opening date for the Khanewal dry port was announced.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan Railways ne January tak 14 additional freight trains chalane ka target rakha hai, jo business community ki maang ke jawab mein hai. Khanewal mein dry port banane ki manzoori bhi di gayi hai, aur poore mulk mein paanch naye weighbridges lagen ge taa ke overloading ruk sake. Aam musafiron ke liye yeh tabdeeli fauran mehsoos nahi hogi, lekin maal ki transport aur train ki technical fitness par is faislay ka asar ho sakta hai.
