LAHORE, Sept 8: The Pakistan Railways said on Thursday only two trains were likely to be handed over to the PR Advisory and Consultancy Services (Pvt) Ltd from Oct 15. According to a railways release, “as a pilot project, only Rohi Express (131-up/132-down) and Chenab Express (11-up/12-down) are proposed to be handed over to M/s PRACS on an experimental basis with effect from the forthcoming timetable with the endeavour to improve the passenger services sector.

The step had been taken to further strengthen the present system, the release said, and added that any fears that the railways transport and commercial sector was being undermined was based on assumptions and did not carry an element of truth.

The decision to hand over commercial management and passengers’ facilitation of another five expresses and three other trains was taken at a meeting, presided over by the federal railways minister, last week.

Under the proposed plan, the Pakistan Railways will focus on the ‘core activities’ like trains operation, safety, punctuality, maintenance of track and rolling stock, including locomotives, coaches and wagons, while the commercial management and passengers facilitation will be handed over to the private sector in phases.—Staff Reporter