ISLAMABAD, June 2: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday said that all measures were being taken to upgrade the working of Pakistan Railways (PR) as well as improving its service quality matching the international standards.

The minister said that efforts were on to restore the punctuality of train services for which a fleet of 150 new high powered locomotives were being inducted.

Talking to President Pakistan Railways Commercial Group and Staff Association Multan Division Malik Razaq Riaz, who called on him, the minister urged the workers and officers of railways to put in more efforts to improve the standard of their organisation.

Mr Rashid said that it was first time the history of PR that highest number of freight coaches totalled 2181 had been dispatched from Karachi to the upward destinations.

He said the ministry was attaching top priority to improve parcel and goods services, which is considered backbone of the railways.

However, he said any raise in passenger fares was not under consideration, while improved service was being introduced in phases.—APP