PM for ensuring uninterrupted disbursement of pay, pension to Railways’ employees
ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday directed the ministries of Finance and Railways to guarantee the disbursement of pay and pension to Railways’ employees every month. The Prime Minister gave this directive during a presentation by the Ministry of Railways here at the Prime Minister House. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh informed the meeting that the financing agreement with a banking consortium would be signed within one week for funding the rehabilitation of 96 locomotives at a cost of Rs 6.1 billion. The availability of the locomotives will significantly improve the efficiency of Pakistan Railways in terms of earnings and provision of traveling facilities to the people, he added.
The meeting was also informed that all the non-economical Railways sections would be closed.
 The provision of diesel for Railways’ locomotives will be ensured and the credit limit from Pakistan State Oil (PSO) will be doubled to ensure the mobility of locomotives, the Finance Minister said.
 He further said that the private-public partnership based freight operation would be conducted by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) from December 25 this year.
 Non-stop Business Express would start operating between Lahore and Karachi and Railways would get Rs 1.15 billion. This partnership, the finance minister maintained, would boost business in the country.
 The meeting was informed that Shalimar Express under public-private partnership would also be operated between Lahore and Karachi.
 The Prime Minister directed Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour to monitor progress of the Railways operation on daily basis.
 The Prime Minister maintained that he would chair a meeting every month to review the programme for making Railways turnaround.
 The Prime Minister said that the restructuring of Railways would be done on priority basis under the guidance of CCOR (Cabinet Committee on Restructuring).
 The Prime Minister said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) would also be appointed by him on the recommendations of CCOR.
 The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Railways to convene Special CDWP (Central Development Working Party) meeting within next two weeks to reprioritize the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funded projects of Pakistan Railways.
 The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Railways for expeditious completion of a joint venture project for rehabilitation of locomotives and freight operation.
 The Prime Minister also directed to set up of an Assessment Management Company for management of non-core assets of Pakistan Railways including its land bank.
 The meeting was also attended by Chairman of Pakistan Railways Javed Iqbal, Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank, Dr. Mushtaq Ali Khan, General Manager Operations Railways Saeed Akhtar and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission and Prime Minister Secretariat.