Pakistan Railway is rapidly developing itself and despite loss and despite of the fact that ministry had not received a bailout package from the government in the last four years.Federal Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique claimed this while addressing the seminar on Future of Pakistan Railways and Logistics in the light of China Pakistan Economic Corridor organized by University of Management and Technology (UMT).
He also said the future of railway is very bright because it is a major source of revenue generation and tourism promotion. He said despite the loss, fares had been reduced that resulted in generation of revenue. He said the government has provided life insurance to every person traveling through trains, which is a new facility that even neighboring country India has not such an offer.
While addressing the seminar Saad Rafique said that CPEC was not a project of ten to twenty years rather it is a long-term scheme that aims at transforming economic opulence in Pakistan. He said when he took over the charge of Pakistan Railways; the circumstances were bad to worse as there was no fuel to run the trains. All railway stations were on the mercy of contractors who were looking after the system. Today, more trains are on the track with more passengers than past have got registered with our system. E-ticketing and Wi-Fi facilities are just few to mention.
“We’ve developed a team of dedicated and honest individuals who if are not politically interfered and allowed to work freely could bring a great change in the railway department”, he said. He emphasized on the need to work together for the national development beyond political affiliation and personal interests.
He advised the universities to start research and degree programs on railway engineering especially locomotive machinery so that potential and educated individuals take the charge of railway department for the betterment of the country.
Saad appreciated UMT Management for directly contacting with Chinese universities for student and faculty exchange programs and starting Chinese language at the varsity, which will support the CPEC scheme.
