LAHORE, May 28: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said a circular train service will soon be launched in eight major cities in the country.

Briefing journalists at railways divisional superintendent’s office here on Sunday, he said the service would be launched in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Peshawar.

He said he had directed railways authorities to increase freight trains up to 14 from the existing eight, adding that two new freight trains would be operated within next 10 days. Like passenger trains, online timetable for freight trains would be available by June 30, he said.

“I have forwarded to the prime minister a summary of 36 defective locomotives for early import of their spare parts to reinforce railways operations,” he said.

He said the department was also focusing on manufacturing indigenous engines and, for the purpose, it had been decided to make it mandatory for collaborating with countries to ensure complete technology transfer.

Mr Ahmad said the PR was ready to establish rail link with Kandahar, Afghanistan, and infrastructure had been provided up to Spin Boldak for the purpose.

He said the prime minister had directed to establish rail links with China, Iran and Afghanistan, adding that China would extend the rail track up to Islamabad.

Answering a question, he said high-value plots of railways would be sold in the first phase and then the department’s land encroached by kutchi abadis, adding that the kutchi abadis would be given ownership rights.

He said he had inspected ongoing work on the Multan-Lodhran section of the Khanewal-Lodhran double track project and it would be completed by June 30.

He said the Karachi-Lahore double track project would be completed in one year, instead of three years, by June 30, 2007.

The minister said the PR had also introduced online ticketing system. He announced that Rs50 discount would be given on fares of economy class in all trains. He said the concession would be effective from June 11.

He said the department would pass on five per cent of its advertisement earnings to the masses by reducing the fares.

The minister said a package for PR workers would be announced in the next budget.

He said the PR administration had also decided to revise locomotive drivers’ pay scale from seven/eight to 13 and increase overtime and other allowances and privileges of technical staff.—APP