Senior citizens get free railway tickets worth Rs 20 mln till date

ISLAMABAD, Mar 27 (APP):Pakistan Railways has issued so far Rs 20 million free Railway tickets across the country to senior citizens of over 75 years age till date.

Pakistan Railways had been providing 50 percent discount to 65-year elders, 50 percent to disabled and students and 25 percent discount to a person travelling along with a disabled person, an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

He said that Pakistan Railways was making all-out efforts to reinforce its fleet of locomotives and ply both passenger and freight trains on maximum routes to transform the organization into a vibrant and profit-earning entity.

Currently, Pakistan Railways has a fleet of total 460 locomotives, out of which 140 are non-functional due to their obsolete versions, he added.
He said the department was pursing a prudent policy to attract more passengers and get increased freight business by extending a number of facilities to the public.

Replying to a question, the official said the railways had upgraded around 52 kilometers tracks during the last seven months through indigenous resources to ensure safe and smooth journey to passengers.
“No new railway tracks have been laid during the tenure of present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government since August-2018 due to financial constraints,” he added.

He said Pakistan Railways is planning to upgrade and replace Main Line (ML-1) from Karachi – Peshawar double track of 1700 KMs under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The official said the department increased fares in order to reduce budget deficit which is growing day by day due to increase in salaries and pensions of employees.

Moreover, the import bill of Railway had also increased due to value depreciation of rupee viz-a-viz dollar and the locomotive maintenance contract charges have also increased due to the same reason, he said.

To another question, the official said the first aid boxes and
emergency medical facilities are available in passenger trains as well as at Railway Stations across the country.

In this regard, he said that operational staff like Station Master,
Assistant Station Master and Guard etc. have been trained about use of medicines available in first aid box and emergency kit for providing emergency medical services to the sick and injured passengers during the journey.

He said that railway doctor is called from nearest next railway
hospital to attend and examine the passenger in case of sudden
sickness or emergency situation during the journey.

The patient is admitted in the nearby hospital or allowed to continue journey after giving necessary medication, depending on the severity of illness, he added.