LAHORE, Feb 6: The federal government has been asked to provide Rs3 billion for fencing the railway tracks across the country. People found riding on roofs of coaches would be arrested, said minister of railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad at a press conference on Tuesday.

A summary to post personnel at 4,000 unmanned crossings and construct some 300 underpasses will be moved in the next cabinet meeting, he said, adding that force can’t be used to deter people from travelling on roofs as had been on Muharram 9.

Some important decisions will be taken after consulting the chief ministers of three provinces, he said and added: "We know the steps we are contemplating will have political repercussions.”

Directives have been issued to finalise the report of Hyderabad train accident by Feb 11. An agreement for the preparation of a feasibility report for a bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi will be inked with Spain and Austria, he said.

He said it was not possible to continue operations on non-profitable routes. "Trains and stoppages on political basis are not necessary. “How long can we stop trains on stations that have an income of Rs50.”

The Punjab government will cooperate with the Pakistan Railways in fencing track for which an assurance has already been given by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to Sheikh Rashid Ahmad during a meeting.