PESHAWAR, June 18: The Pakistan Railways would run a train service in the provincial capital to reduce the traffic load and to provide the people with better transportation facilities, a senior official said on Monday.
“A feasibility study has been prepared, envisaging a train service from the city centre to Hayatabad, which will be implemented once authorities find a way to bypass the Peshawar airport’s runway,” Railway secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi told a meeting of businessmen held at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
He said the official concerned would soon give a detailed briefing to the business community about the special train service.
The Peshawar International Airport enjoys a dubious distinction of having a railway crossing right in the middle of its runway. The railway track was laid down by the British in late 19th century.
Mr Qureshi was in Peshawar to apprise the business community of the forthcoming plans of the federal government for making railways an efficient and profitable entity. Peshawar Divisional Superintendent of Railways Shafiqullah Khan, SCCI President Liaqat Ahmad Khan, executive member Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi and others attended the meeting.
Giving details of future plans, Mr Qureshi informed the meeting that the government had prepared a strategy for elimination of corruption from the department to make it a business-friendly and modern organisation through structural reforms.
He said the government had decided to launch public-private joint ventures for the upgradation of outdated equipment of the department, subsequently turning the railway lines into a national trade corridor.
Mr Qureshi underlined the need for public-private partnership for establishing a dry port in Azakhel, adding that the private sector should play the management role and the railway department would provide necessary infrastructure for overall operations.
He also assured the gathering that funds kept by the Trade Development Authority would be utilised for upgradation of facilities at the existing Peshawar Dry Port.
Earlier, SCCI President Liaqat Ahmad Khan and executive member Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi demanded inclusion of the NWFP in the railway’s business plan sanctioned by the prime minister. They also demanded non-stop passenger and cargo train services from Peshawar to the southern parts of the country.