LAHORE: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique says that no proposal is under consideration to privatise the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

“No such move is on the cards as far as I know. Instead, the government is looking for a strategic partner for the revival of the PIA,” said the minister in his keynote speech at a seminar arranged jointly by Pakistan Railways Labour Union and Rail Mazdoor Ittehad (Shed Staff) at Aiwan-i-Iqbal on Sunday.

“Strikes and protests are no solution to any problem. Workers should struggle for their just and legal rights. Issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than opting for extreme actions like strikes.

“The government does not believe in depriving people of their livelihood. It is making sincere efforts to revive the economic situation of all the financially depressed organisations,” said Mr Rafique.

A five-year plan, he said, was being finalised to upgrade the railways as at least 10 years were required to make it a viable organisation. For the restructuring of railways, a committee of serving and retired officers had been constituted.

“Experts will also be hired from outside railways who will suggest ways and means to develop the human resource but no one would be shown the door as far as I am the minister,” he said while responding to the demands made by labour leaders Hafiz Salman Butt, Sarfraz Khan and others.

With the cooperation of workers and the efforts of the administration to reform the railways, its deficit had been reduced.

“At present, railways deficit had come down to Rs27 billion from the Rs32 billion in 2012-13. Railways could only survive if it continues reducing its deficit from Rs3 billion to Rs4 billion every year,” Mr Rafique said.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016