KARACHI, June 12: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has registered a positive growth of eight and 14 per cent in passenger and freight traffic respectively during the period of July-March 2004-05, said an official source. This is more than that recorded in 2003-04 when the growth in passenger traffic was 3.3 per cent with, however, a marginal decline recorded in freight traffic in the same period.

An average increase of 6.4 and nine per cent was recorded per annum during 2000-03 respectively under the same heads.

During 1990-2005, the share of the railways, both in passenger and freight traffic declined from 13.5 to 9.5 per cent and from 14 to 4.2 per cent respectively.

The PR nearly lost its monopoly position due to the government’s priority changed in favour of the road sector. The growing road transport competition further imbalanced the Pakistan Railways.

However, the PR did register an impressive recovery in 2001-02 when its freight traffic grew by over 20 per cent against an average decline of 4.4 per cent per annum in the 1990s.

Official sources maintained that the positive growth trend for three successive years 2000-03 could be attributed to the wide range of improvements made by the PR due to completion of a number of development projects.

In addition, the PR also improved the quality of its services, timeliness and cleanliness.

According to figures available, the income of the PR stood at Rs13.2 billion in 2004-05 against Rs10.6 billion in the same period last year, showing an increase of 24.5 per cent.

During the fiscal 2004-05, an amount of Rs9.2 billion was allocated for the PR.

Major development schemes completed by the PR included manufacturing of 16 diesel electric engines at the Risalpur Locomotive Factory, and manufacturing of 66 coaches at the Carriage Factory Islamabad received from China in semi knock-own condition.

Meanwhile, it was said that work on replacement of over-aged sleepers and rails would continue during 2004-05, according to which it had been planned to replace 210 km of old rails and 293 km of sleepers.

The work of doubling of tracks from Lodhran-Khanewal via Multan would continue until its completion in 2005-06.

Sources also said that a feasibility study of a rail link for Gwadar Port would also be completed in the near future. — APP