LAHORE, Jan 9: The Pakistan Railways has increased freight charges by 5 per cent with immediate effect on Wednesday, while a sum of Rs4 billion is sought from the government to rehabilitate its system in Sindh in wake of the Dec 27 carnage.

“Freight charges have been increased after 11 years which would add Rs264 million to railway purse,” said caretaker Minister for Railways, Mansoor Tariq, at a news conference at the PR headquarters in Lahore.

A thorough inquiry would be conducted into the leasing out of railways golf club to a private party. The terms and conditions of the lease would also be amended.

Highlighting the steps he had taken to increase income after assuming the charge of railways, Mansoor said agreements with the Pakistan State Oil would bring Rs95 million while with the NLC Rs350 million.

He said Steel Mills Changa would add Rs225 million.He added that establishment of a dryport at Premnagar in Lahore would fetch Rs911 million and leasing out of a railway land would Rs2.5 billion.

Punjab governor Khalid Maqbool had assured to help recover Rs10.52 billion arrears in rent of the railways godowns from the provincial governments, said Mansoor.

Also, he said the railways had been able to retrieve 86 acres of land from encroachers. “Railways police were given the task to retrieve encroached lands but the operation had been stopped in wake of general elections,” the minister said.

SUSPENDS SERVICES: Meanwhile, the railways suspended six train services for an indefinite period because there were not enough passengers to make them viable.

The trains that would not operate are: Bolan Mail from Karachi Cantt to Quetta, Bhambhor Express from Karachi Cantt to Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi Express from Lahore to Rawalpindi, Sialkot Express from Sialkot to Rawalpindi, a local from Hyderabad to Mirpurkhas and another local from Multan Cantt to Khanewal.