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| May 31, 2003 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1424 |
1,300 freight wagons to be imported from China: Mehar
ISLAMABAD, May 30: Railways minister Ghous Bux Khan Mehar on Friday said 1,300 freight wagons were being imported from China, at a cost of Rs3.2 billion.
“The new freight wagons will be 8-wheelers, instead of the present stock of 4-wheelers, so they could be run on better speed as well as accommodate container freight which is the present day requirement”, he told this agency.
The minister said railways needed 6,500 freight coaches, and 1,300 would be imported from China within the next few years.
He said railways signals improvement system was being installed from Shahdara to Rohri, at a cost of $116 million. He added that the system would also be extended to other routes as well.
A plan has been chalked out to double the track between Lodhran and Khanewal, improve signal system and refurbish old passenger coaches, he said.
The minister hoped that dualization of rail track from Lodhran to Khanewal would be completed within a year, while it would be extended up to Raiwind within two years.
Answering a question regarding Samjhota Express, he said India wanted to run only freight train, but “we wanted both freight and passenger service be run simultaneously”.
As soon as green signal is received from foreign office, the train would be ready to steam off for Attari.
“We have collected passports of Samjhota crew, but the same have not yet been sent to Indian Embassy for visas,” he added.
Mr Mehar said: “Regrettably, in the past, policies were changed without any valid reason, but I have decided to continue the policies of my predecessor as the same are positive and have yielded good results”.
Regarding extension of track to Afghanistan and Iran, he said Afghanistan was interested in having rail line from Chamman to Kandhar, but no proposal in writing had been received as yet.
As for Iran, he said: “We have track up to Iran border, and when Iran builds track from Zahidan to Kirman, we can start train service through this route up to Saudi Arabia.
He said the project of refurbishing 450 coaches at carriage factory Islamabad was underway, and its completion would help provide better train services to passengers.
Answering a question regarding transfer of technology, the minister said: We are interested in involving the private sector, which, as vendor industry, will play its role in keeping our rolling stock in good running condition.” —APP
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