Pakistan PM directs railways to upgrade freight capacity to conserve fuel amid Iran war
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to upgrade Pakistan’s railway freight facilities, as Islamabad eyes increased use of rail transport to conserve fuel amid the Middle East conflict.
Pakistan has turned to enhancing its rail transport capacity after the Middle East war involving the US, Israel and Iran pushed global oil prices higher and disrupted key energy shipping lines worldwide.
Islamabad was forced to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per liter this month, making road transport costly. Pakistan’s top commerce body warned this week that with commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has drastically reduced, prompting shipping lines to impose crippling war-risk surcharges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Pakistan Railways steering committee in Islamabad to discuss the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure in the country, his office said in a statement.
“The prime minister directed Pakistan Railways to upgrade its freight facilities, noting that in the current regional context, the use of rail freight for transporting goods has become indispensable for saving fuel,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
Officials informed the prime minister that freight services are expected to grow by 21 percent this year. Sharif was also briefed on the ongoing digitization reforms in the railway sector, which include cashless ticketing and the provision of free Wi-Fi at railway stations.
“Freight services have improved in quality and transparency through the implementation of a Freight Management System, digital weighing bridges and a rolling stock tracking system,” the statement said.
The Middle East war and disruption to key energy shipping lines worldwide prompted Pakistan’s government to announce austerity measures last week to conserve the country’s existing fuel stock.
These measures included imposing a four-day workweek, closing schools and cutting down on government expenditures. Sharif has ordered that third parties be approached to ensure the austerity measures are being implemented transparently.
Pakistani authorities have assured the masses that the government holds adequate fuel stocks, warning of stern action against anyone found guilty of hoarding the stock of petroleum products.
.jpg)
