ISLAMABAD: Within days of assuming charge of the railways ministry, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has coined a new slogan — “Ab Aaraam Hey Haraam” — which he is using to signal his pledge to work relentlessly and 18 hours a day to stop Pakistan Railways from a being loss-making entity and ridding it of the stranglehold of corruption.

Sheikh Rashid announced his goals while speaking to reporters at the Rawalpindi railway station on Thursday.

Catchy slogans are not a new phenomenon, however. When the previous government appointed Saad Rafique as railways minister, he started off with his own, “Amdan Barrhao, Khurch Ghatao.” Mr Rafique’s performance at the helm was not bad either, as Pakistan Railways earned an income of over Rs40 billion during 2016-17 — four billion more than the target of Rs36bn. Now, railways officials hope Sheikh Rashid will be able to carry the mantle going forward.

The new minister promises to bring bullet trains to the country

According to the performance report of the railways — covering the period from 2013 to 2017 — Mr Rafique’s time in charge saw passenger income generate 55 per cent of the income for the department, while freight service contributed 31pc.

Mr Rashid says he will make every effort to increase the freight train service to enhance revenue. The target is to double the freight trains, dedicating the newly imported locomotives to freight services. The new minister intends to launch freight train service from Karachi to Sukkur, Rawalpindi to Lahore and Rawalpindi to Mianwali.

Mr Rashid further said that the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has inherited a deficit of Rs40bn in Pakistan Railways, which is all due to the corruption and inefficiency of the previous government.

The history of the Rs40bn deficit is long. A performance report of the railways stated that — the organisation in view of its grave financial situation — borrowed Rs300 million from the State Bank as overdraft during Muhammad Khan Junejo’s premiership. As time went by, the deficit rose to Rs40bn in 2011. On this amount, Rs5bn has been levied as interest charge. In 2017, thanks to financial manoeuvrings, the deficit was reduced to Rs34.52bn and interest payments were also stopped.

Imran Khan is determined to reduce the deficit to zero, for which railway tracks could be rented out and rest houses of Pakistan Railways may be sold. He has hinted that some important decisions will be made at high-level meetings scheduled to take place at the railway headquarters in Lahore on Saturday.

Major decisions include launching two new train services by the end of the month with a 10pc inaugural discount for one month and shutting down train services that are not generating profits. He said he does not want to burden the railways with loss-making train services.

Mr Rashid during his last term as railways minister in 2006-2007, had wished to introduce a ‘bullet train’ service in Pakistan. On Thursday, he reiterated this dream as his continued ambition, disclosing that wealthy overseas Pakistanis are eager to invest in the transport sector in the country. The prime minister has assured overseas Pakistanis that their investments will be protected. Since ‘bullet train’ is an expensive project, uplifting existing trains will be prioritised.

The new minister also pointed out that half of his department is allegedly involved in financial corruption, and that all this must stop, threatening that any officer found guilty will be handed over to the National Accountability Bureau.

Mr Rashid added that there will be no victimisation; however on the issue of corruption there would be zero tolerance. Policy is being devised to curtail unnecessary expenditure, he claimed.

He invited private companies to invest in businesses on railways land, which he said will be leased out for 20 years. Pakistan Railways will however remain the owner of all properties and not even a single track will be sold. The railways has 20 to 25 acres of land which it can lease to private companies for them to build plazas and food streets on.

He said that a dual track will be laid between Peshawar and Lahore. This, he said, will be a priority, and will be the first target of his ministry. He said Pakistan Railways would make efforts to realign a track from Kalowal to Jhelum to eliminate unwanted curves along 56 kilometres with a view to reducing travelling time between Rawalpindi and Lahore. “We intend to start a new train service for Basal, Jand and Mianwali to facilitate passengers as well.”

Mr Rashid also said that 4,000 quarters would be constructed for grade-IV employees of the railways and major decisions will be taken to the cabinet for approval.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2018