ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan Railways (PR) had suffered a loss of Rs.79.093 million during the last three years.

Replying to a question during Question Hour, he said that the PR suffered a loss of Rs.23.023 million in 2008-09, Rs.24.979 million in 2009-10 and Rs.31.091 million in 2010-11.

He said less availability of locomotives, increase in salary and pension of employees and being a public service/commercial entity were the main reasons for the loss.

At present, only 144 locomotives were in working condition out of 494 locomotives in books, he added.

Bilour said that 293 locomotives were ineffective while 57 were temporarily deleted on account of imported/local spare parts.

The minister said that 33 persons had died and 50 sustained injuries in train accidents during the last three years. A sum of Rs.6,320,000 was paid to the inured persons while Rs.14,700,000 was disbursed to heirs of deceased.

To another question, the minister said that the PR fare was increased in 2011 due to hike in fuel prices and operational expenses.