ISLAMABAD: The recent agreement between the Pakistan Railways and National Logistics Cell (NLC) for repairing of locomotives was criticised in the National Assembly on Friday.
A couple of lawmakers from the treasury benches took a dig at Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour for striking a deal with the NLC, the organisation which they said, was already in the news for financial mismanagement.
“I really don't know how the contract will benefit Railways when the NLC itself is mired in corruption,” said Shagufta Jumani of the PPP. She said the minister should explain how this latest deal would benefit Railways.
Jamshed Dasti of the PPP said the minister had failed to deliver in improving the ever-worsening state of affairs in the Railways.
He said in the past the organisation used to be not only the best mode of transportation for the poor, but also a profitable organisation. “Therefore, having mercy on the poor nation, the minister should resign from this ministry which for unknown reasons he is keeping so dear to himself.”
He said the entire blame for the poor state of affairs afflicting Railways was on Haji Bilour and the outcome of the new deal would also be his responsibility.
Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza suggested to the embattled minister to make a special detailed briefing for lawmakers on the current status of Railways.
She said in routine the house received questions by the legislators seeking reply on various aspects of Railways.
Mr Bilour first defended the contract with the NLC, according to which the NLC would finance repairing of 30 locomotives currently lying redundant at various locations. He said of 30 repaired locomotives, the NLC would use 15 for its freight services whereas it would hand over 15 to Railways.
He said that it was an ideal contract for Railways because whatever amount of money the NLC would spent on refurbishment of out of order locomotives, Railways would repay in lieu of rent which “we will charge from the NLC for offering it freight services.”
In response to Mr Dasti's demand for his resignation, the minister said he was willing to resign if Dasti could run train without locomotives.
Parroting his often quoted response on the state of railways, the minister said despite his ministry's repeated requests and demands for funds to repair locomotives over the last couple of years, there was no response from the finance ministry.
“Only recently, the government has promised to release some Rs5 billion for the sole purpose of locomotives' renovation, hopefully things will improve once the ministry will get this amount,” he said.
On the speaker's suggestion, the federal minister for railways said he had nothing new to share with the house about his ministry.
“Whatever information I carry, I am always open and never hide anything,” said the visibly annoyed minister for Railways, refusing Dr Fehmida's idea of a separate briefing.
Criticising the government for not providing required funds to Railways, Saleem Saifullah of the PML-LM said the government was currently busy in printing new notes, what stopped it to print a few more billions for Railways.
In response to another query related to Business Train which railways has launched through the private public partnership, the minister informed the National Assembly, so far it was running in losses because of the lack of occupancy of its seats.
But the minister said the private party was hopeful of earning profits in coming months.