ISLAMABAD - Finding no other option to put the crises-ridden Pakistan Railways on the track of prosperity, the PPP-led coalition government on Monday formed a new board for railway sector that will be headed by Federal Minister for Railways.
The maiden meeting of newly formed Railway Board was held here on Monday under the chair Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour in the premises of the ministry with its all concerned members. Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour had been made head of the newly formed board. Under the new board, the Federal Railways Minister, who is also the chairman of the board, is being given the extended powers to take all decisions regarding Railways.
The Railways minister informed the members that next Board meeting would be held after two weeks to devise strategies to embark upon a new era of development of Pakistan Railways. The newly-formed board comprises 14 members with five of them from within the ministry and rest nine from other different departments, retired railways officers and even a former minister.
The new board has been formed after making few changes to the rules and regulations of the previous board. According to new board, the powers of Railways Minister have been extended while the chairman will exercise his powers like other members of the board.
The board comprise economist Dr Hafeez Pasha, Pir Muhammad Qasim Qureshi, former minister Dr Abdul Malik, Prof Imran, Mohsin Aziz, former Railway Chairman Shakeel Durrani, Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan, Iqbal Samad Khan and Nasreen Haq.
Chairman Pakistan Railways Arif Azim gave a detailed presentation to the Board members encompassing structure, functioning and issues faced by Pakistan Railways.
He also briefed members about the future plans, the ministry had been striving to undertake for steering Railways from swelling losses and make it a profit-making organization.