LAHORE, May 16: The earnings of the Pakistan Railways in passenger and other coaching sectors registered a slight increase but the efforts to boost freight income have yet to bear fruit, it is learnt.

Sources told Dawn on Tuesday the railways budget target was Rs17,408.521 million while its income remained Rs6,103.476 million from July 1 to April 30, showing a deficit of Rs3,875.414 million.

The proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year were Rs13,853.518 million, they said.

Railways income in passenger sector was 8.2 per cent or Rs608.757 million more than the Rs7,453.148 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year. However, the earnings in the sector were 2.8 per cent or Rs235.358 million less than the target of Rs8,297.263 million as it could earn Rs8,061.905 million.

In the other coaching sector, the organisation earned 27.2 per cent or Rs157.316 million more than the Rs578.764 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year. However, the earnings in the sector were 2.3 per cent or Rs16.250 million less than the target of Rs719.830 million as it could earn Rs736.080 million.

The freight income during the period was Rs3,775.769 million which it was 29 per cent or Rs1,543.603 million less than the target of Rs5,319.372 million while the proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year was Rs4,323.278 million.

The income in sundry sector was 68.8 per cent or Rs2,112.703 million less than the target of Rs3,072.056 million against the earning of Rs959.353 million. The proportionate earnings in the sector for the same period of the previous year were Rs1,498.328 million.

The overall income of the organisation remained Rs456.333 million against the budget target of Rs588.355 million from April 21 to 30. It earned Rs243.352 million in passenger sector against the target of Rs260.608 million which was 6.6 per cent or Rs17.256 million less than the Rs219.873 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year.

The freight income during the period was Rs166.084 million which was 14.1 per cent or Rs27.240 million less than the target of Rs193.324 million while the proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year was Rs136.271 million.

In the other coaching sector, the railways earned Rs14.003 million which was 42.1 per cent or Rs10.184 million less than the Rs24.187 million target while the proportionate actual earnings for the same period of the previous year was Rs13.902 million.

The railways earned Rs32.894 million in sundry sector against the target of Rs110.236 million which was 70.2 per cent or Rs77.342 million less than the Rs110.236 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year.