LAHOR E: Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique has hinted at outsourcing the commercial management of more passenger trains under private-public partnership policy of the government.

`We are also contemplating to involve private sector in the operation of freight and cargo trains while the plan to outsource more passenger trains will be materialised during the ongoing year,` the minister told newsmen after a contract signing ceremony for out-sourcing Shalimar Express at the railways headquarters here on Saturday.

The minister said there was neither any plan nor any need to privatise Pakistan Railways.

He said involvement of the private sector in the commercial management and passenger facilitation of three passenger trains running between Sindh and Punjab capitals had been a success story.

Outsourcing the commercial management of passenger trains in atransparent way had helped increase railway revenue, he said.

`Under the public-private partnership policy, the highest bid of Rs1.80 billion has been given for Shalimar Express. The PR will get Rs1.14bn more compared to the previous agreement for the same train. Nepotism, corruption and undue favours destroy national institutions. Since railways is being run on merit by dedicated officers, its revenue has increased considerably. The PR earned Rs36.58bnduring 2015-16, compared to the fixed target of Rs32bn,` he said.

The minister said the move to outsource more trains would not affect service of any employee. Railway employees would continue to travel in Shalimar Express as usual, he said.

The minister appealed to the superior judiciary to decide the Royal Palm Golf Country Club case at the earliest but parried question whether he would have the same stance regarding the Panamagate matter. Staff Reporter