ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways discussed operational viability of electric and diesel locomotives here on Friday. The committee, which met at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Sardar Tufail Ahmed Khan, observed that electric locomotives are economically viable than diesel locomotives, therefore, Pakistan Railways should conduct feasibility study to induct more electric locomotives to reduce operational costs.

Secretary of the ministry informed the NA body that due to increase in the cost of electricity, operation of electrified sections of the railways had been abandoned, however, they were trying to make them economically viable.

Electric locomotives would help in reducing pollution, he added. The committee asked the ministry to allocate funds for making ineffective electric and diesel locomotives operational.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Mohammad Saeed Irk, Subside Mohammad Mehboob Sultan, Pir Mohammad Shah Khagga, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Mohammad Anwar Bhutto, Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi, Nasim Akhtar Chaudhary, Dr Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Farooq Azam Malid and Dev Das.