US to fund railway infrastructure

[ajtr]

US to fund railway infrastructure

KARACHI, May 15: United States Consul General William Martin signed an agreement providing for Rs. 56 million to Premier Mercantile Services (PMS) for expert assistance to facilitate the acquisition and operation of a fleet of locomotives on the Karachi-Lahore railway line.

CG Martin, on behalf of the US Trade and Development Agency, along with Captain Haleem Siddiqui of PMS inked the agreement that will enable the private sector company to help Pakistan's rail system handle the growing volume of cargo between Lahore and Karachi, a press release said.

"The initiative is central to improving the capacity of one of Pakistan's most important trade corridors and promoting continued economic growth. To remedy a shortage of properly maintained locomotives, Pakistan Railway has agreed to allow PMS to deploy and operate a fleet of locomotives using PR's existing rolling stock and railway infrastructure. The assistance will also provide PMS with an assessment of future freight volumes, financing requirements for the project, and other technical assistance," the release stated.

Speaking on the occasion, CG Martin stated that the "United States remains committed to partnering with the Pakistani transportation sector," because of its importance in supporting economic growth in the country, while also "increasing and strengthening Pak-US commercial ties."

The US Trade and Development Agency aims to create sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

Brian McCleary, Commercial Counselor, US Embassy Islamabad, and Aasim Siddiqui, MD, Marine Group of Companies, were also present on the occasion.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Uncle Sam subsidizes AMTRAK, why not Pakistani choo-choos as well?

 

[pmaitra]

So this comes after India refuses to lease out locomotives to Pakistan.

Most of the modern Indian locomotives won't even run on most of Pakistan's tracks, because those tracks are just too light to handle Indian locomotives, even if the gauge is same. Moreover, Pakistan is broke and will never be able to pay security money, even if they manage to pay for the lease-rent.

Anyway, if it helps NATO supplies, then the US is just being pragmatic.

 

[ajtr]

Czech Republic interested to invest in rail sector


ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Czech Middle-Asian Chamber of Commerce (CSOK) Thursday met Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and expressed interest to invest in the rail sector of Pakistan for its uplift.

General Mangers Operations of Pakistan Railways Junaid Qureshi briefed the 11-member Czech delegation about railway network in Pakistan besides highlighting the problems it had been facing in pursuit of making it a profit-oriented organization.

The CSOK delegation was headed by Miroslav Vana, Member of Parliament of Czech Republic and President of Chamber Jiri Nestaval.

Qureshi said Pakistan's railway sector needs huge investment and also has the potential to give positive outcome in future if its shortcomings are addressed. He suggested the delegation members to invest in rehabilitation of tracks, railway bridges, maintenance and purchase of locomotives and other relevant works.

The GM Operations highlighted the importance of planned Peshawar-Jalalabad track and said sought Czech cooperation to execute the vital project.

Minister for Railways also assured for all out cooperation to the delegation in future if they show willingness to invest in Pakistan's railway sector. He also suggested the visiting delegation to lease out 50 locomotives to Pakistan for trial and in case of satisfactory results, the government of Pakistan may enhance cooperation in this regard.

Both sides also agreed to meet again to discuss future prospects of the investment in the railways sector agreeing that it would benefit both the states.

The CSOK President said they were committed to assist Pakistan Railways to make it run on track of prosperity. He said Czech companies were also executing joint ventures in Pakistan in other sectors, expressing interest for investment in Peshawar-Jalalabad rail link.

Secretary Railway Board Syed Shahid Ahmed and other senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion.

 

[drkrn]

US to fund railway infrastructure

KARACHI, May 15: United States Consul General William Martin signed an agreement providing for Rs. 56 million to Premier Mercantile Services (PMS) for expert assistance to facilitate the acquisition and operation of a fleet of locomotives on the Karachi-Lahore railway line.

CG Martin, on behalf of the US Trade and Development Agency, along with Captain Haleem Siddiqui of PMS inked the agreement that will enable the private sector company to help Pakistan's rail system handle the growing volume of cargo between Lahore and Karachi, a press release said.

"The initiative is central to improving the capacity of one of Pakistan's most important trade corridors and promoting continued economic growth. To remedy a shortage of properly maintained locomotives, Pakistan Railway has agreed to allow PMS to deploy and operate a fleet of locomotives using PR's existing rolling stock and railway infrastructure. The assistance will also provide PMS with an assessment of future freight volumes, financing requirements for the project, and other technical assistance," the release stated.

Speaking on the occasion, CG Martin stated that the "United States remains committed to partnering with the Pakistani transportation sector," because of its importance in supporting economic growth in the country, while also "increasing and strengthening Pak-US commercial ties

Brian McCleary, Commercial Counselor, US Embassy Islamabad, and Aasim Siddiqui, MD, Marine Group of Companies, were also present on the occasion.

is pakistan going to lease rail locos to nato??
they them self are running out of locos
so the paki govt is officially going to open routes to america.
what are the nato going to improve?
may be america may ask india to support them on paki railways?