In the initial half of the fiscal year 2023-24, Pakistan Railways experienced a remarkable surge in revenue, reaching Rs 41 billion, a notable increase from Rs 28 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The CEO of Pakistan Railways expressed optimism about future improvements with the forthcoming launch of the ML1 project. Aamir Baloch highlighted enhancements in the timely disbursement of salaries to railway employees, minimizing delays, and ensuring prompt payments.
Emphasizing plans for this year, the CEO outlined intentions to amplify railway services and expand travel facilities.
In December of the previous year, Pakistan Railways notably raised the Right of Way (ROW) charges for a single-track crossing to Rs. 3.8 million for five years, aiming to bolster revenue generation. Earlier practices included charges of Rs. 100,000 per track crossing for 10 years during fiber broadband installations by telecom operators.
This amount was raised to Rs. 2.7 million for five years in 2007 with the broadband's increased use. However, in 2022, the PTI-led government reduced the charges to Rs. 600,000 per crossing for a lifetime to encourage fiber broadband adoption. In contrast, cable TV operators continue to pay a significantly lower fee of Rs. 100 per year.
