Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati has said that operating passenger and freight trains are not the functions of the Pakistan Railways since it has no capacity to provide better services, adding that it is actually the function of the private sector, reports Dawn.
Speaking at the Rawalpindi Railway Station during the inauguration of the Sir Syed Express train, the minister said that Sir Syed Express was being “outsourced” as a “better rate” had been achieved through tendering.
After outsourcing Sir Syed Express, more passenger trains, as well as freight trains, would be outsourced, he added.
Swati said that with the outsourcing of the train, one chapter of the mission he had undertaken on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan would be completed.
Pakistan would build railways for Uzbekistan, he said, adding that Prime Minister Khan would visit the Central Asian country soon.
Swati expressed his regret at two train accidents that had occurred during his tenure and pledged that the officials responsible for these accidents would be punished.
