ISLAMABAD, March 21: Pakistan Railways has lost precious revenue worth over Rs5 billion during the past five years due to suspension of coal transportation from Balochistan to the rest of the country, official sources told Dawn.

An official of the Ministry of Railways said that the loss is not due to inefficiency of Pakistan Railways, rather terrorist activities have destroyed 10 bridges out of 158 bridges between the Sibi-Khost section since 2006.

According to sources, Pakistan Railways used to earn Rs1 billion annually by transporting coal to all parts of the country, and this loss will continue unless and until the service is restored.

Pakistan Railways now have high-speed freight wagons which have the potential to enhance earnings for the railways.

However, informed sources said that the divisional office of railways in Quetta had raised the issue with PR headquarters in Lahore as well as the Ministry of Railways for financial allocation to repair bridges but high-ups in Lahore and Islamabad made no headway to restore the service.

From this situation, it is now evident that exploration of coal from this part of the province has stopped or reached the lowest level. Freight service of Pakistan Railways was the only major source of transporting the explored coal from these fields, sources said.

Pakistan Railways has no plan to repair the damaged bridges unless security situation improves in the province, an official of Pakistan Railways explained.

He said that most dangerous to pass through is the Marri tribal belt from where firing on trains is common.

Out of 10 stations between Sibi-Khost, Pakistan Railways had four top coal earning stations which are Khost, Shahrigh, Harnai and Nakas. Other six stations are: Sibi, Nari, Tanduri, Babar Kach, Kuchali and Spintangi.

The 130km long track involves two tunnels and 158 bridges and most of the area falls in the Marri tribe. No passenger or freight train has been operated on this sector since March 2006, according to Maqbool Magsi, Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways based in Quetta.

With this suspension, a major portion of Balochistan province remains disconnected from the rest of the country through the rail network. The movement of inhabitants living around the ten railway stations between Sibi and Khost has been restricted only to the less-available road transport which has taken the living conditions of people in the area to the lowest ebb.

At a time when Pakistan Railways was facing acute financial crisis in its history, it is high time that top officials of Ministry of Railways and Pakistan Railways repair the damaged bridges to resume the suspended service to serve people of the under-privileged areas and increase its earnings to overcome financial crisis.