Pakistan Railways (PR) on Tuesday signed agreements with a Chinese and a Pakistani company for laying optical fibre at the Right of Way (RoW) on two major routes of the rail network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The companies have also paid the charges of over Rs333 million in advance to the department, according to a senior official privy to a meeting held here at the PR\u2019s headquarters to sign the agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe entire payment has been made in advance to the department at the rate of Rs36 per metre for laying optical fibre at the PR\u2019s right of way. The first route where the Chinese company will lay the cable is Kemari to Peshawar Cantt (Main Line-1\/ML-1) which consists of 1,681 kilometres in total. The second route where a Pakistani company will work is the Kemari to Lodhran and Multan via loop line and then Gujrat to Lahore Cantt. This consists of a total of 1,049km,\u201d the official told Dawn by telephone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To a question, the official said the laying of optic-fibre cable, besides the areas near the railways\u2019 RoW, will also benefit the railways in having services related to internet\/Wi-Fi in passenger trains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nChinese, Pakistani firms have paid Rs205m and Rs133m, respectively, to lay cable at PR\u2019s right of way<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
According to the department, the Chinese company has paid over Rs205m to the PR for laying optical fibre at Kemari-Peshawar route whereas the Pakistani company has also made a payment of Rs133m. The period for both contracts is three years which can be extended with mutual understanding. PR\u2019s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch signed the agreements with the representatives of the companies on behalf of the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe PR is heading towards increasing its incomes through various avenues. And signing of agreements with international and local companies will help railways increase its income,\u201d Mr Baloch said while speaking on the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think, it will also help us in having various business ventures with other companies too in the near future,\u201d he hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the suspension of rail traffic towards Quetta, Balochistan, due to security situation and other issues, the CEO said the resumption of the rail operation would take two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs soon as the security situation improves, we will immediately restore the train operation for Balochistan from the rest of the country. He said the ongoing rains are affecting the train operation across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n