LAHORE: Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, Pakistan Railways CEO Aamir Ali Baloch has announced the deployment of four special Eid trains. In an exclusive interview with the local media at Railway Headquarters, Baloch underscored the self-reliance of the railways, noting its ability to cover operational costs independently, while depending solely on the government for pension disbursements to retired employees. He revealed a significant increase in revenue from Rs5 billion to Rs8 billion in recent months.
Baloch emphasized the crucial role of coal transportation in financing nearly half of the railway’s expenses, emphasizing ongoing efforts to optimize operations. He praised former Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for his contributions, including track restoration and improving train services.
Addressing challenges, Baloch called for government assistance in managing pension expenses to alleviate financial pressure on the railway. He also highlighted the impact of rising gas and electricity prices on operations.
Baloch expressed optimism about the timely initiation of work on ML-1 and stressed the need for additional trains to meet growing population demands, particularly in smaller towns. He affirmed the absence of corruption within the railway and outlined measures to reduce expenses and increase profits, such as transferring oil transportation responsibilities to PSO and implementing system upgrades.
