ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan Railways has managed to retrieve 293.56 acres land from encroachers through the anti-encroachment operation from July 1, 2018 to September 15, 2019 with the assistance of railway police & district administration, the Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed told.
In the Senate on Friday, the minister submitted a written reply, according to which, Pakistan Railway owns, 167,690 acres of land – 90,326 acres in Punjab, 39,428 acres in Sindh, 28,228 acres in Balochistan and 9,708 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – all over the Country.
The minister told that out of 167,690 acres of land, 126,426 is under operation use, 19,133 is reserved for future operational use, 10,020 is leased for various purpose, 3,956 is under encroachments (including unauthorized Katchi Abadis), 537 is under Katchi Abadis (regularized), 308 is having commercial potential while 7,310 acres land is barren/cultivable.
Division wise detail of land retrieved by Pakistan Railways From 01-7-2018 to 15-09-2019;
Separately, the railways minister confirmed that the fare of various trains has been increased 4.7% from July 1, 2019 due to rationalization of fare on account of fuel prices and depreciation of Pakistani rupee.
However, the minister told that Pakistan Railways has not increased fares for the passengers travelling upto 50 kilometers despite increase in pays, pension, fuel, electricity and other costs.
Similarly, he added that, the fares of short lead passenger trains were rationalized and rounded off to figure of Rs 10 on March 11, 2019 which resulted in the reduction of fares. He also told that the rates of platform ticket and parking charges have not been increased.
Sheikh Rasheed further told that the track included in the ML-1 (Main Line 1) will be completely fenced in addition to conversion of all manned/unmanned level crossings to flyovers/under passes for provision of secured railway services to the people.
