LAHORE, June 12: Non-availability of locomotives and wagons at the Karachi Port Trust continues to affect freight operations of Pakistan Railways, resulting in decrease in its overall earnings at the end of 11th month of the 2005-06 fiscal.

However, the earnings in passenger and other coaching sectors have registered a slight increase.

Sources said on Monday that the railways budget target was Rs19909.257 million while its income remained Rs15424.067 million from July 1 to May 31, showing a deficit of Rs4485.190 million.

The proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year were Rs15735.562 million.

The railways’ income in passenger sector was 8.4 per cent or Rs682.820 million more than the Rs8171.408 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year. However, the earnings in the sector were 2.9 per cent or Rs264.368 million less than the target of Rs9118.596 million as it could earn Rs8854.228 million.

In the other coaching sector, the organisation earned 25.9 per cent or Rs169.172 million more than Rs652 million proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year. The earnings in the sector were 3.7 per cent or Rs29.344 million more than the target of Rs791.828 million as it earned Rs821.172 million.

The freight income during the period was Rs4240.667 million which was 28.3 per cent or Rs1671.305 million less than the target of Rs5911.972 million while the proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year was Rs4695.290 million.

The income in sundry sector was 71 per cent or Rs2426.734 million less than the target of Rs3419.365 million against the earning of Rs992.631 million. The proportionate earnings in the sector for the same period of the previous year were Rs1624.254 million.

From May 21 to 31, the overall income of the organisation remained Rs509.442 million against the budget target of Rs648.011 million. It earned Rs285.331 million in passenger sector against the target of Rs288.611 million which was 1.1 per cent or Rs3.280 million less than the Rs219.873 million budget target, However, it was 12.2 per cent or Rs30.923 million more than the proportionate earnings for the same period of the previous year.

The freight income during the period was Rs167.338 million which was 15.5 per cent or Rs30.603 million less than the target of Rs197.941 million while the proportionate earnings for the same period of previous year was Rs140.721 million.

In the other coaching sector, the organisation earned Rs15.953 million which was 36.1 per cent or Rs9.001 million less than the Rs24.954 million target while the proportionate actual earnings for the same period of the previous year was Rs17.248 million.