By Zainab Ali
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) was facing a widening gap between its revenue and expenditures, recording a deficit of 51 percent from April to October this year – the tenure of the ruling alliance led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique told the National assembly in a written reply that from April to October, expenditure and revenue of the state entity remained at Rs33, 764.332 and Rs69, 084.928 respectively, which registered a deficit of Rs35, 3019.596, which is 51.12% of the total.
The minister said the expenses had soared past 50% compared to its income. He further said that the ministry was taking measures to lessen this gap and strengthen its revenue position.
He further said that on 125,000 railway pensioners, the railway spent more than Rs 75 billion annually. He said that since the independence of Pakistan, Railways have regularly taken help from the federal government to fulfill the gap in resources. He also explained the expenditure of approximately 64,000 employees as one of the causes.
Other expenditures, including repair and maintenance of passenger carriages, locomotives, service, and wagons, have also exceeded the resources of railways.
“Train service punctuality has improved from 63% to 80%,” the minister said.
The National assembly was informed that 230 high-speed coaches of international standard would soon be inducted into the fleet of Pakistan Railways to provide passengers with better traveling services.
The minister said that after nine years, Pakistan Railways has also resumed Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Cargo Train, adding that the project will maximize economic efficiency through regional connectivity.
