KARACHI, Oct 21: The lands belonging to the Railways but not in operational use would be leased out through the provincial governments on the market rates to those who have constructed houses there.

This was stated by Minister for Railways, Ghous Bux Mahar, while talking to newsmen at the Railways Officers Rest House here on Tuesday.

He said: “In accordance with the decision of the federal cabinet about the assets of the Railways, we will dispose of our ‘dead assets. Sixty-five per cent of the proceeds will be retained by the Railways, and 35 per cent would be given to the provinces.” He added that efforts were being made to carry out a survey of such assets in a couple of weeks.

He said that, in accordance with the earlier decision, those who living in ‘katchi abadis’ since before 1985 would not be disturbed and the rest would be evicted.

Mahar stated that it had been decided now that the lands in operational use for 50 years would be got vacated, and the rest would be disposed of and leased out on market rates in collaboration with the provincial governments. Thus, he added, the problems of those living in ‘katchi abadis’ would be resolved.

Replying to a question, he said it was difficult to estimate the value of such land as there had been no survey, and that was why he had directed that such a survey be completed in a couple of weeks. He, however, estimated that the value of such land would be in billions of rupees.

The minister stressed that those who had occupied such lands illegally would not be provided any compensation or alternate places and the lands would be leased out to those who had constructed houses there.

Mahar said that the process of removal of people from illegally occupied land has now been halted. He said he had asked the officers concerned in each divisions to submit a report about the survey in about 10 days time.

“The vacant lands would be disposed of through an open auction and the proceeds would be utilized for the debts and improving the organization.

To a question, he said the income of the Railways had gone up to about 2.5 billion rupees this year, but there had been an increase in the expenses as well because of the hike in the oil prices and salaries of the employees. Later, the minister addressed a meeting of the office-bearers and workers of the PML-Q. He also chaired a meeting of Railways officers.—APP