Railways freight revenue potential highlighted

LAHORE: Former chief executive officer (CEO) of Pakistan Railways Ijaz Ahmad Buriro has shared his recommendations with the top authorities to overcome major issues hampering the freight business, saying revenue may jump to Rs35 billion from the existing Rs18bn per annum if some remedial measures are taken.

Mr Buriro has sent a report to Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, PR Board chairman Dr Habibur Rehman Gilani and others.

Mr Buriro made the recommendations after the railways ministry sought opinion from different officials who had held important positions in the PR.

The PR’s freight segment has neither a business plan nor operational management or efficiency that is leading to under-utilisation of the line capacity and rolling stock, mis-utlisation of available resources, undue detention of wagons, abnormal yard detentions, increased transit time, improper marketing, delayed placement of wagons for loading at Karachi, non-existence of customer facilitation, average speed of around 18km per hour due to engineering restrictions, defective signal system, non-availability of ZNRV (Break Van) despite availability, undue DVS (Damage Vehicle for Sick Line) over system, terminal detentions and last but not least inefficient control offices over the system.