LAHORE: The financial position of Pakistan Railways has improved considerably as passenger and freight sectors have attracted commuters and traders because of measures taken by the PR’s administration, says Moham­mad Javed Anwar, the newly appointed General Manager (Operation).

Mr Anwar expressed these views after assuming the office of the general manager at the PR headquarters here on Sunday.

Citing examples like reduction of fares up to the level of what is charged by buses and availability of locomotives in the freight sector which made it possible to ply up to 16 cargo trains in a single day, he said all out efforts were being made to revive the department.

Punctuality of passenger trains had been improved from 10 to 55 per cent and fuel availability enhanced up to 15 days from zero level to streamline the service, he said.

Hundreds of acres of railway land had been retrieved, he added.

Mr Anwar said that since massive revenue could be generated through cargo trains, the department had decided to restore freight trains to the extent of two trains per day from Karachi port to upcountry. He was optimistic that the ratio could be increased to 8-10 trains by the end of the current financial year. The step will not only improve the financial position of the entity, but also become a source of prosperity for its employees.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014