By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
The newly appointed General Manager Pakistan Railways, Junaid Qureshi, has
stated that railway’s 60 percent problems can be resolved by overcoming
mismanagement while the remaining 40 percent relate to financial implications.
He made the observation while talking to media after chairing meetings with
Divisional officers and office-bearers of various workers’ unions in the office
of Divisional Superintendent Railways.
Besides some Principal Officers from Railway headquarter Lahore ,
who accompanied the General Manaer during his maiden visit to Karachi , the meeting was also attended by
Divisional Superintendent Anzar Ismail Rizvi.
Junaid Qureshi said he told the officials to spare no effort in resolving the
related problems which they can do at their own level
In this regard, he said, he issued various directives to them and hopefully
these would result in bringing improvement in the railway’s working including
control on late running of trains which emanate from Karachi.
He said that plans were underway to restart the freight trains on priority
basis, which in real term are the real revenue backbone of the railway.
“Railway certainly suffered a revenue setback with the closure of freight
operation”, he observed and pointed out that Karachi Railway Division has only
89 working locomotives out of a total strength of 111.
He said that he will be visiting the loco shed at Cantonment railway station on
Tuesday to assess the possibilities for repair of defective locomotives and for
this purpose the railway will release necessary funds as well.
He said that railway will start operation of two freight trains from Karachi from next week
To a question, the GM Railways informed that talks were in final stages for
obtaining Rs 6 billion commercial loan from National Bank of Pakistan . He
said this amount will be spent on the repair of 80 locomotives and will be
repaid from the income generating from freight and other operational trains.
Junaid Qureshi informed that international tenders have been floated for
purchase of 150 locomotives. He said the tenders will be opened in June.
Replying a question, the GM said that railway is going to run six more trains
on public-private participation during the next 30 or 45 days.
He told a questioner that for the present the railway’s revenue was 30 percent
below the target. But the situation will improve by next month when freight
trains will be operational.
Meanwhile, the General Manager railway has under taken a visit to various
railway divisions starting with Karachi Division He will be visiting Sukkur
Railway Division on Tuesday and Wednesday and Multan Railway Division next
week.
Junaid Qureshi said he is taking a team of senior officers along with him for
resolving various issues on the spot.
He said he himself will under take journey to various destination on trains and
has issued same directives to his officers to follow his suit in an effort to
bring improvement in the railway’s working.
