ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways under its Open Track Access Policy (OTAP) is allowing private parties to use its track for running of oil, freight and passenger trains. The Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF), the ministry of finance and the ministry of railways arranged an investor conference regarding the running of private trains using Pakistan Railways tracks, said a press release on Wednesday.
The press release informed that Pakistan Railways wants to launch trains through public-private partnerships between Karachi and various upcountry stations like Lahore, Piranghaib (near Multan), Lal Pir, Daudkhail, and etcetera.
The OTAP aims to attract investment from the private sector and use Pakistan Railways’ capacity to allow optimum usage of its infrastructure. Private operators will be allowed to invest and operate trains utilising the existing track and infrastructure for a fixed tenure by paying Pakistan Railways the predetermined track access charges.
The project will facilitate trade and is expected to inject up to Rs3 billion annually in Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways Chairman Shahid Hassan Raja stated that the existing state of affairs cannot continue and the only option is to work with the private sector so that Pakistan Railways can become a commercially viable entity.
The press release informed that Pakistan Railways wants to launch trains through public-private partnerships between Karachi and various upcountry stations like Lahore, Piranghaib (near Multan), Lal Pir, Daudkhail, and etcetera.
The OTAP aims to attract investment from the private sector and use Pakistan Railways’ capacity to allow optimum usage of its infrastructure. Private operators will be allowed to invest and operate trains utilising the existing track and infrastructure for a fixed tenure by paying Pakistan Railways the predetermined track access charges.
The project will facilitate trade and is expected to inject up to Rs3 billion annually in Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways Chairman Shahid Hassan Raja stated that the existing state of affairs cannot continue and the only option is to work with the private sector so that Pakistan Railways can become a commercially viable entity.
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