CPEC: Pakistani parliamentary committee on railways directs to complete ML-1 project at the earliest

China Economic Net

Lahore: A Pakistani parliamentary committee has directed to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project at the earliest as Chinese loan had already been approved.

The meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways was held under the chairmanship of Mueen Watto, in committee Room Pakistan Railways Headquarters, Lahore to discuss the agenda items.

“The committee discussed the present status of ML-I project which is pending since long but the committee has always been briefed by the railways that the project will be started soon in every briefing,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.

It added: “Lastly, Ministry of Railways briefed the committee that Chinese loan have been approved but in spite of that there is no ground progress. The committee recommended that the said project may be launched at the earliest for its timely completion.”

Pakistan’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had previously approved ML-1 at an estimated cost of US $ 6.8 billion on the 90:10% cost sharing basis by the China and Pakistani side.  The ECNEC had basically three different component of ML-1 project including package-I of ML-I at the cost of US $ 2.7 billion which include Nawabshah-Rohri Section (183 kilometres)), Multan-Lahore Section (339 Km), Lahore-Lalamusa Section (132 Km), Kaluwal-Pindora Section (52 Km) and upgradation of Walton Railway Academy at Lahore. Under Package-II, the cost of $2.67 billion was approved for up-gradation of Kiamari-Hyderabad Section (182 Km) and Hyderabad-Multan Section (566 Km) excluding work done on Nawabshah-Rohri Section in Package-I. While under Package-III, the ECNEC had approved a cost of US $1.42 billion for construction of Lalamusa-Rawalpindi Section (105 Km), Rawalpindi – Peshawar Section (174 Km) and establishment of dry port near Havelian.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways showed its reservation on the poor implementation of the previous recommendations made in different meeting including the ML-1. Further, the committee also reiterated on the issue of regularization of staff, clearance of retiring benefits and dues of railways employees. The committee discussed the report of Sub-Committee and approved its recommendations.

The derailment of sir Syed Express train also came under discussion and the committee recommended that compensation to the injured and the legal heirs of dead passengers should be made at the earliest after completion of all legal requirements. The committee had reservations on the auction policy and recommended that the said policy should be improved by Railways. Chief Controller Purchase was directed to provide the detail of auction of scrap for the last 5 years.

The committee observed that the contractors were running the trains in a better way than railways which was a question mark on the professional people of Pakistan Railways.

The Committee pointed out that Railway Golf and Country Club has already taken over by the railways and will be outsourced soon after legal and other formalities as briefed by the Ministry of Railways. However, the committee emphasized on its previous recommendations that Railways should take over the financial matter of the club and the amount so earned by the club must be in the account of Pakistan Railways, said the statement.

On the agenda item pertaining to the damage of wall of Dargah at Kotri, Railways officials informed the meeting that 06 employees have been identified and proceedings against them are under way. Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project at Chaman, Balochistan have been settled and railways issued tender for development activities over there.

The Committee was told that there was shortage of Pakistani Rs 7.50 billion to pay the retiring benefit to the employee of railways and the Committee recommended that Federal Government may provide the funds for clearance of said dues. The Committee also recommended that the sub Engineer appointed on contract in railways may be regularized as they got training from railways academy at Walton.

The Committee recommended that the Shops and Khokha sealed by railways may be  de-sealed as the people intend to pay current rent alongwith outstanding amount in installments.  The Committee discussed the performance of present Divisional Superintendent Sukkur Division and recommended to remove him due to frequent derailment of trains in his jurisdiction.

The Committee also appointed a Sub-Committee under the convenorship of Chaudhry Hamid Hameed with the composition having the member Dr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani and Ramesh Lal.

Members of the National Assembly Sheikh Rashid Shafique, Amjad Ali Khan, Tahir Iqbal,  Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani, Chaudhry Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Ali Pervaiz,   Muhammad Khan Daha, Nauman Islam Shaikh, Ramesh Lal, Muhammad Bashir Khan, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Gillani, Dr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla and Nusrat Wahid attended the meeting.