NA panel for regularising railway land, leasing properties

LAHORE: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Railways on Friday stressed the need to regularize railway land and lease commercial properties to enhance revenue generation.

Chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz presided over the meeting at the Railway Headquarters in Lahore. Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch briefed the committee on the organization's performance, its operational matters, and other sectors.

The meeting was attended by committee members Abrar Ahmed, Wasim Qadir, Zulfiqar Sattar Bachani, Ramesh Lal, Muhammad Ilyas, Ahad Ali Shah, Muhammad Jamal, Ahsan Khan, Shafqat Abbas, and Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui, along with senior railway officers, including Chairman Pakistan Railways Mazhar Ali Shah and IG Railways Rao Sardar Ali.

Amir provided a detailed briefing on the facilities being offered on passenger trains, including the introduction of modern dining cars, water dispensers and Wi-Fi on the Green Line, Shalimar and Karakoram trains.

He also highlighted the launch of e-ticketing, refund policies, internet services and a Rabta app which have significantly improved passengers' trust in railway services. The committee expressed satisfaction with these developments.

Additionally, the committee was briefed on the efforts to remove encroachments and lease railway land, as well as address issues related to Kutchi Abadis.

The committee members stressed the need to regularize railway land and lease out commercial properties to enhance revenue generation for Pakistan Railways.

In response to a question on the Quetta Railway Station suicide bombing, Rao Sardar shared detailed information about the attack. He informed the committee that compensation for the martyrs and injured was in its final stage.

He suggested the construction of security walls at railway stations, installation of walk-through gates, increased personnel for railway police and allocation of funds for the Quick Response Force (QRF). The committee approved these suggestions and assured that the issues related to personnel and scales would be addressed.

Rai Hassan expressed the committee’s commitment to sending recommendations to the government for improving railway services.

He also approved the minutes of the previous meeting, praising the informative railway station visit that took place earlier on Thursday.

He appreciated the cleanliness system at the Police Helpline Centre and the Executive Washrooms built under the public-private partnership at the Lahore Railway Station.

Furthermore, he proposed a special grant for the renovation of the Lahore Railway Station, which was supported by the committee members.