LAHORE, Dec 5: The Pakistan Railways has taken the first step towards implementation of the ‘open tracks policy’ by inviting private sector to operate goods and passenger trains on its infrastructure. Salient features of the policy were spelt out to the intending private operators at a conference on track access, at the Mayo Gardens Club on Monday.

The intending investors, however, pointed out there were still grey areas in the policy.

“We have been offered to own, operate, maintain and manage the freight and passenger trains on terms and conditions which have yet to be formulated,” Jamal Khawar, Anwar Malik, Ziaul Haq and Malik Rafiq said.

“The railway authorities are talking about commercialization of the infrastructure and facilities but not handling it commercially.

“Why should the investor pay maintenance charges when he is paying lump sum operational charges for using the utility? How would be our cargo insured? Who would be responsible in cases of derailment, breakdown of locomotive, calamity and delays?” were their other queries.

Earlier, Railways general manager (operations) Saleemur Rahman Akhoond gave an overview of the policy, additional general manager (freight) Ali Arif and AGM (passenger business unit) Mushtaq Jadoon explained the potential and quantum of their respective sectors and AGM (Infrastructure Business Unit) Imtiazul Haq spoke about the development projects of the railways.

Ministry of Railways director (operations) Nasir Zaidi said the Pakistan government would be responsible for implementing the policy.

Minister for Railways Mian Shamim Haider, who presided over the first session, said minute details of the policy would be finalized in the light of the suggestions and proposals of the participants.

The government has decided in principle to make available the infrastructure, track and facilities of the Pakistan Railways to the private sector, he said.

“Infrastructure should be the main responsibility of the government and the users should pay the operational charges of the utility. “We have invited the private sector to submit proposals. The opinion of railways officers will also be given due weightage,” he said.

The idea to follow the Civil Aviation Authority pattern in the railways was conceived after the government plan to turn the organization into a state-owned corporation by July 1 this year had to be delayed when in June the federal law ministry returned the draft law sent to it by the railways ministry for vetting to make the PR a corporation.

The CAA allows the private sector to use its infrastructure and facilities on payment of charges and certain conditions.

Meanwhile, private sector was invited to run its own trains on railways tracks by procuring and operating own rolling stock and locomotives according to prior arrangements with the organization and in accordance with the trade policy of the government.

The pre-bid conference scheduled to be held on Aug 2 at the railways headquarters in this behalf was postponed after the triple-train collision near Sarhad railway station on July 13.