ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Railways has floated a tender, allowing national and multinational firms to utilise several passenger trains and railway platforms for generating maximum revenue for the department. “All preparations regarding the branding of trains and platforms, railway station, certain crossings and trains have been finalized,” said department sources on Friday. It added that the branding of the trains and platforms would not only cover the increasing deficit of Pakistan Railways but will allow private firms to advertise their products for the said purpose. They said that initially, Pakistan Railways would offer five trains for branding their seat covers, internal walls of the passenger coaches, and even toilets as a pilot project. “The deficit of the department will decrease after starting this project and the minister has already directed the department concerned to complete all the formalities in that regard at the earliest,” they added. The sources further said that advertisers would have access to the parking area, platforms, staircases, bridges and other infrastructure at Lahore Railway Station. It is not the first time Pakistan Railways has attempted to monetise its assets for advertising purposes. In 2014 also, the organisation launched a pilot project to offer branding opportunities to companies across the seat covers, internal walls of passenger coaches, and toilets on the Tezgam, Khyber Mail, and Awaam Express. However, the initiative was unsuccessful. The initiative, the sources said, however, based on the information, looks to mitigate the problems faced by its predecessor by adopting a grand approach to the issue.