LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has proposed sale of railways land to end the organisation’s deficit and urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to promulgate an ordinance for the purpose.

“The prime minister has sought within a fortnight details of the precious land railways has in many cities,” said the minister at a press conference at the railways headquarters on Saturday.

He also hinted at the possibility of handing over the control of the railways hospitals to the army medical corps.

Hints at handing over hospitals’ control to army medical corps

All the railways land would be retrieved from the grabbers, said Mr Rashid who was quick to add that no action would be taken against the dwellers of shanties on the direction of the prime minister.

Calling the conditions at the railways hospitals pathetic, Mr Rashid said he was contemplating involving the private sector for improvement but without compromising on the rights of railways employees.

“There is no specialist doctor at any railways hospital. I found 40 employees looking after three patients in the Karachi hospital. Employees treatment from other hospitals costs railways Rs200 million per annum. We plan to operate these hospitals under public-private partnership. We are even ready to hand over these hospitals to the private sector on ‘as it is’ basis. Talks are under way to hand over the control of all the railways hospitals to the army medical corps,” he said.

The minister said senior citizens who are 65 years old and above besides people with disabilities would get 50pc concession on rail tickets on presenting their original CNIC. A person accompanying a visually challenged person or a passenger with any disability would also get the same concession, he said, adding that wheelchairs would be transported in luggage van without any charges.

No proposal was under consideration to increase the rail fares. Provision of more facilities to the passengers was on top of his priorities, said the minister. He said tenders were being invited for installation of filtration plants at the railway stations to ensure provision of clean water to passengers.

Expressing dismay over the quality of work under the railway station upgrade plan of his predecessor, Mr Rashid said Rs2 billion had been spent on the renovation plan though the work could have been done with much less amount in a much better way. He said the private sector would now be involved to renovate and upgrade the stations.

He said the Pakistan Railways required 23,000 skilled workers to improve its efficiency. “The prime minister will be requested to grant approval for creation of 23,000 new vacancies. At least, 10,000 skilled workers are needed on an emergency basis,” he said. He said he would request the prime minister to upgrade by one step the pay scale of the railway labourers “who are the real asset” of the organisation.

Mr Rashid promised that two more express trains would be operated to facilitate the labour class in the interior of Sindh. The upgraded Moenjodaro Express and Rohi Express would soon start chugging between Karachi and Sukkur. The minister said efforts were under way to generate more revenue by introducing new ideas in the freight sector. “Initially, one or two trains would be handed over to the private sector on a trial basis,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018