LAHORE: Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Javed Anwar has said all the “just demands” of the loco-running staff will be accepted.

A summary to increase drivers’ mileage allowance from 45 per cent to 50pc had already been forwarded to the railways ministry, said the CEO during a meeting with a delegation of All-Pakistan Train Drivers Association at PR headquarters in Lahore on Tuesday.

He said a committee had been constituted to finalise recommendations for upgrading the posts of all railway employees under the restructuring plan that would be completed by the year-end. “Rest assured all posts will be upgraded on merit as employees of all grades and categories are equal and honourable in the eyes of the administration,” said Mr Anwar.

Association Secretary-General Shamas Pervaiz, who led the delegation, regretted that the passengers had to face a lot of inconvenience due to train stoppages.

He expressed the optimism that the administration would continue to hold dialogue with the employees to resolve their problems.

AZADI TRAIN: The Pakistan Railways has started preparations to run Azadi Train in connection with the 70th Independence Day of the country.

The National Logistic Cell (NLC) of the Pakistan Army also offered assistance to the railways in operation of the train that would visit major cities of the four provinces in August, said a spokesman on Tuesday.

In this connection, Brig Shabbir of the NLC met Railways CEO Javed Anwar in Lahore and handed him over a Rs1 million cheque for the Azadi Train, said the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2017