http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=58711&Cat=6&dt=7/21/2011
The shortage of diesel is a usual matter and it does not affect the operation of trains but the real problem the Pakistan Railways has been facing for the last five years or more is lack of locomotives, which needs special attention of the concerned authorities.
Well-placed sources, commenting on the statement of the minister regarding shortfall of diesel, told The News that it would not stop the operation of trains on any route. We get diesel through oil tankers or meet its shortage through engines of old trains which remain standing on tracks due to one fault or another, they said.
According to sources, the main reason behind financial collapse of the railways is lack of locomotives. Out of the total number of 450 trains, only 70 are in working condition. Even these 70 locomotives, which were overhauled, have completed their 20 years working life out of 25 years. The remaining 380 trains have developed major faults and could not be operated unless their locomotives were changed, they said.
Sources said that the Pakistan Railways had purchased 150 new locomotives from China for Rs8 billion about six years back, but they proved to be substandard. The Chinese locomotives proved to be useless and the amount went wasted incurring a huge loss to the Pakistan Railways. Despite facing heavy losses, the concerned railway authorities are once again in touch with China to procure another 150 locomotives, they said.
The operation of freight trains is getting affected due to lack of locomotives, incurring a loss of billions of rupees to the department, sources said.
According to sources, the Pakistan Railways spends over Rs8 billion on payment of pensions to its retired employees. The Pakistan Railways is not receiving subsidy from the government worth Rs8 billion for last 8 months. If the two matters, including pension payment and subsidy to railways, is taken over by the federal government then the department could save huge revenue and improve its economic situation, sources said.
A highly-placed official of the Pakistan Railways, on condition of anonymity, said that the purchase of new locomotives has become the need of the hour but not from China. The first experience of procuring locomotives from China proved to be a disaster and we should not think about doing the same, the official said. He agreed to the point that the government should deal with the matters of pension and giving subsidy to the railways. We will generate enough revenue and will be able to take the railways out from prevailing financial crisis if the demands are met by the government, he said.
When contacted for comments on the issue, Pakistan Railways Divisional Superintendent (Rawalpindi) Mohammad Tariq Khan said that it is not his subject and asked this scribe to contact Chief Mechanical Engineering (Loco) Mir Mohammad Khaskheli at the Railway Headquarters in Lahore. He will give you correct information and give a comprehensive briefing on the matter, the DS added. When Mir Mohammad Khaskheli was contacted by this scribe on his mobile phone, he refused to give any statement on the locomotives subject.
However, a senior Pakistan Railways official declared the analysis of the sources correct and authentic. As the experience of Chinese locomotives did not prove fruitful, one must avoid taking the same step again, he said. Even the Standing Committee of the National Assembly had recently objected to the proposal of procuring Chinese locomotives, he added.
==============================================================================
Chinese junking their cheap qty of goods into pakistan!
The shortage of diesel is a usual matter and it does not affect the operation of trains but the real problem the Pakistan Railways has been facing for the last five years or more is lack of locomotives, which needs special attention of the concerned authorities.
Well-placed sources, commenting on the statement of the minister regarding shortfall of diesel, told The News that it would not stop the operation of trains on any route. We get diesel through oil tankers or meet its shortage through engines of old trains which remain standing on tracks due to one fault or another, they said.
According to sources, the main reason behind financial collapse of the railways is lack of locomotives. Out of the total number of 450 trains, only 70 are in working condition. Even these 70 locomotives, which were overhauled, have completed their 20 years working life out of 25 years. The remaining 380 trains have developed major faults and could not be operated unless their locomotives were changed, they said.
Sources said that the Pakistan Railways had purchased 150 new locomotives from China for Rs8 billion about six years back, but they proved to be substandard. The Chinese locomotives proved to be useless and the amount went wasted incurring a huge loss to the Pakistan Railways. Despite facing heavy losses, the concerned railway authorities are once again in touch with China to procure another 150 locomotives, they said.
The operation of freight trains is getting affected due to lack of locomotives, incurring a loss of billions of rupees to the department, sources said.
According to sources, the Pakistan Railways spends over Rs8 billion on payment of pensions to its retired employees. The Pakistan Railways is not receiving subsidy from the government worth Rs8 billion for last 8 months. If the two matters, including pension payment and subsidy to railways, is taken over by the federal government then the department could save huge revenue and improve its economic situation, sources said.
A highly-placed official of the Pakistan Railways, on condition of anonymity, said that the purchase of new locomotives has become the need of the hour but not from China. The first experience of procuring locomotives from China proved to be a disaster and we should not think about doing the same, the official said. He agreed to the point that the government should deal with the matters of pension and giving subsidy to the railways. We will generate enough revenue and will be able to take the railways out from prevailing financial crisis if the demands are met by the government, he said.
When contacted for comments on the issue, Pakistan Railways Divisional Superintendent (Rawalpindi) Mohammad Tariq Khan said that it is not his subject and asked this scribe to contact Chief Mechanical Engineering (Loco) Mir Mohammad Khaskheli at the Railway Headquarters in Lahore. He will give you correct information and give a comprehensive briefing on the matter, the DS added. When Mir Mohammad Khaskheli was contacted by this scribe on his mobile phone, he refused to give any statement on the locomotives subject.
However, a senior Pakistan Railways official declared the analysis of the sources correct and authentic. As the experience of Chinese locomotives did not prove fruitful, one must avoid taking the same step again, he said. Even the Standing Committee of the National Assembly had recently objected to the proposal of procuring Chinese locomotives, he added.
==============================================================================
Chinese junking their cheap qty of goods into pakistan!
