Nine Locomotives withdrawn from Pakistan Railway fleet
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has withdrawn nine locomotives from its fleet after cracks had developed in their underframes, said Minister for Railways, Mian Shamim Haider on Friday.

Pakistan Railways had received these locomotives from China last year under, but nine out of total locomotives purchased so far had to be withdrawn due to serious damages appearing in their underframes, he told National Assembly in response to a Calling Attention Notice.

He said the Government of Pakistan had entered into an agreement with Chinese Firm in 2001 to purchase 69 locomotives with financial assistance by the Exim Bank.

Pakistan Railways received eight complete built units (locomotives) in July 2003 and seven 200 horse power complete built units in September 2003, he said.

He said partially repairable locomotives were being updated at Risalpur as their performance was not satisfactory.

He acknowledged that agreement with Chinese firm was not that much in favour of Pakistan Railways, as it might have been. “We should have struck a better deal,” he added.

MNAs Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, Maulana Shamsul Mulk, Sabir Hussain Awan, Sher Akbar Khan, Khalid Imtiaz and Qurban Ali Chohan had drew the attention of the minister towards purchase of the defective locomotives from China.

To a question, the Minister told the House that Pakistan Railways was moving according to the contract agreement and has also asked the Chinese firm to come to Pakistan and inspect their product as well as ensure a warrantee for five more years for these locomotives.

“Pakistan Railways has so far received 31 locomotives while delivery of remaining 38 has been suspended for the time being and till the satisfactory performance of the present engines,” he added.

To another question, the minister said, every locomotive cost Rs. 90 million to Pakistan Railways. These nine engines were not defective at the time of purchase and the cracks appeared just ten days back.

He however said that China did the favour to sell these locomotives to Pakistan at a time when no country, after 9/11, was ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan.

To a query, the minister said, a team of experts from Chinese firm is reaching Pakistan on March 16 to discuss this matter with Pakistan Railways.

“If they cannot satisfy us, then Pakistan Railways will request the Prime Minister to terminate the order of remaining 38 locomotives,” he told the House.●