LAHORE: The National Assembly Standing Committee directed the railway administration on Thursday to retrieve the department`s precious commercial land in Lahore division from land mafia and lease it to private parties on a priority basis.

The committee members held a meeting with the senior PR officials during their visit to Lahore.

`During a briefing given to us at the PR`s Lahore division`s office, we were told about the department`s land, including various pieces of precious commercial land under illegal occupationof the land mafia. On knowing this, we sought retrieval of the land from the mafia and lease it to increase the railway income,` NA standing committee (railways) chairman Rai Hasan Nawaz told Dawn when contacted.

`We told the railway authorities to focus on the commercial properties situated at prime locations instead of displacing the poor people living at the residential nature land,` Mr Nawaz added.

Sharing the committee`s day-1 visit detail, he appreciated the railway administration for implementing the land-lease plan under the apex court verdict that allowed the department to leaseout land for some longer period.

`We also advised them to clear the department`s land of encroachment,` he said.

The NA panel chairman said he along with the committee members also visited Lahore Railway station and observed the facilities for passengers. It was good to see the modern bathrooms/toilets constructed recently there.

`During a visit to the railway Mughalpura workshop, we witnessed manufacturing of goods wagons locally. Moreover, the efficient fuel management system installed at the Loco Shed, is also a good step to save fuel,` he explained.

Meanwhile, a press releaseissued by the PR states that the committee members including Ibrar Ahmad, Waseem Qadir, Zulifqar Sattar Bachani, Ramesh Lal, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry, Syed Shah, Ahmad Ali Shah, Muhammad Jamal Ahsan Khan and Shafgat Abbas led by chairman Rai Hasan Nawaz also visited police helpline at the station.

They also sought departure of trains on time from Lahore to various destinations. On this occasion, PR chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, chief executive officer Amir Ali Baloch and other senior officers briefed the committee members about various initiatives taken for improving services and increasing revenue.