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Rail fares set to rise by 25pc


ISLAMABAD: Due to mounting financial losses and non-availability of rail engines, Pakistan Railways has decided to increase rail fares by 25 percent besides discontinuing 39 more passenger trains, Geo News reported on Thursday.

This was disclosed in a meeting of Standing Committee for Railways here.

Secretary Railways informed the meeting that budget of railways for the current fiscal year is Rs613 billion but it has received only Rs21 billion during six months. He further said that the number of locomotives is 500 in papers but only 156 are functional.

G.M. Railways informed that proposed hike in rail fares is being finalized, under which fares of passenger trains would be hiked by 10 percent, Express train by 20 percent, non-stop rails by 25pc and luggage rails by 30, and added that inter-city rail fares would be raised by 15 percent.

He also informed the committee that the government has approved to discontinue 39 rails due to financial losses.

The number of employees in Pakistan Railways is 85,000 he said and added that proposal of sacking around 20,000 employees is under consideration.


Courtesy www.geo.tv

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