ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that 230 modern passenger coaches have been procured by Pakistan Railway (PR), and the first batch of which will arrive by end of May 2022.
In a written reply, the minister told the National Assembly that the federal government has taken various steps to modernize Pakistan Railways.
The minister told that High Power locomotives (4000 HP) have been procured to enhance pay load for maximizing freight revenue.
Saad Rafique said that the process for installing Radio Frequency Identification System over the PR network has been initiated. This will transform PR on modern lines by effective and efficient monitoring of rolling stock, he added.
The railways minister also said told that the process for installing Automatic Train Protection (ATP) in locomotives has been initiated and will be operational after the complete installation of Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) at 31 stations.
Regarding facilities being provided to the Public by Pakistan Railways, the House was told that at present, Pakistan Railway is operating 19=38 Mail/Express Trains,16=32 intercity and 9=18 passenger trains over the Railway system.
Likewise, facilities on Railway Stations include waiting rooms, vending stalls, station restaurants, wheelchairs, information desk, computer reservation facilities, public address system to inform the public about the arrival/departure of trains at stations, provision of paramedics and 1st aid facility, online reservation facility, passenger insurance services, and revival of help desks at stations.