The federal government has allocated Rs 77 billion for 45 development schemes and to meet the current expenditures of Pakistan Railway in upcoming financial year 2014-15, According to the budget, as many as 500 locomotives would be added to the rail network in next five years to address the issue of shortage. The government would purchase as many as 1500 new coaches to provide excellent journey to the passengers in upcoming five years.

The government would upgrade railway stations to make them business attractive hubs in big cities and freight transport would be enhanced in coming years, Dar said. Pakistan Railway would start Urban Railway in two big cities like Lahore and Karachi to facilitate the passengers with affordable journey in routine. New initiatives for the revival of railway should be taken under Pak-China Economic Corridor, Ishaq Dar pointed out in his budget speech.

The government wants to rehabilitate existing rail infrastructure and introduce new tracks including Islamabad-Murree, Kashmir and Galiyats and in order to mature these projects a news Kashmir Railway company would be established, the finance minister said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014