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Pakistan Railways has reported a significant increase in revenue, earning Rs 55 billion during the first eight months of the current financial year 2023-24, despite facing financial challenges caused by floods in the monsoon season. This marks a historic increase compared to the Rs 37 billion earned during the same period in the previous financial year 2022-23.
The revenue of Rs 55 billion was generated from passenger and freight trains, along with contributions from other sectors of the department. The department aims to achieve revenues of up to Rs 80 billion by the end of this financial year, thanks to the consistent efforts and hard work of Railway workers.
Currently, Pakistan Railways is operating 96 passenger trains, up from 86 trains in the previous year. Similarly, the number of freight trains has increased from an average of 3.75 to seven this year.
Regarding the issue of delayed salary payments to employees, the department has addressed the matter, and it expects further streamlining once work on the Mainline-I (ML-I) project commences.
Due to inflationary pressures, including high fuel costs, Pakistan Railways has raised fares for both passenger and freight segments. This adjustment is expected to improve the corporation's revenue in the coming months.
In terms of safety measures, Pakistan Railways has intensified precautions to reduce passenger train accidents. Only six minor accidents with no casualties occurred across the railway network in the country during the last three months. Specifically, there were two train accidents in September, none in October, and four in November. These numbers reflect the effectiveness of the department's measures to enhance safety.