LAHORE, (Pakistan Point News - 13th August, 2016) : The Pakistan Railways, clarifying a news item, published in some newspapers on August 12-13 regarding downfall of the Railways, declared it baseless and against the facts. A press release issued here on Saturday termed the news item part of a campaign against the flourishing organisation. "Such type of rumours shatter the public confidence and discourage the dedicated management, which is striving to change the destiny of the organisation," it added.
The incumbent government took the charge of Pakistan Railways at the end of financial year 2012-13 when the operational and financial health of the department was very poor. The incumbent team of the Railways officials, under the leadership of Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, worked day and night to put the department on the track. In the last three years, the earnings of Pakistan Railways have jumped up from Rs 18.
078 billion to Rs 36.581 billion and the deficit was brought down to Rs 26.993 billion from Rs 30.504 billion. About 10 million passengers have been provided travelling facilities in these three years. The punctuality of train arrival and depart timing have been improved a lot, the release said. New locomotives/ coaches are being added to the system to enhance the operational capacity of the Railways. Due to better financial position, a labour package of about Rs 500 million was announced during the last financial year for welfare of the Railway employees.
The pension system has also been revolutionised in the department and all its pensioners are now getting their pension through the bank of their choice. About 20 Railway stations, which had very old buildings, are being constructed with modern facilities. E-Ticketing has been introduced in Pakistan Railways to further facilitate the passengers. The passengers are insured. Moreover, during the previous financial year, 2015- 16, Pakistan Railways contributed approximately Rs 6 billion for increasing pay and pension of the employees. Contrary to the facts and figures mentioned in the newspaper, the earning of the department has doubled in the year 2015-16 compared with 2012-13, the release added.
