Railways Minister Azam Swati has revealed some unspoken truths about his own ministry claiming that power worth Rs2.5 billion is being pilfered annually in railways, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

He made this disclosure in the Senate Standing Committee meeting held under the chair of Muhammad Qasim at Parliament House on Tuesday. 

The minister said that the electricity theft could be checked by installing over 54,000 meters. 

“Power theft robbers steal electricity with the help of Wapda staff,” Swati alleged. 

The minister also sought the Balochistan government help to save the Railways and asked the Bejinzo government to spend Rs21 billion out of total Rs600 billion to improve the Quetta-Taftan railways track.

He told the Standing Committee that the federal government would spend the remaining amount to uplift the railway track. 

He said the Balochistan government should implement the track upliftment policy to revive the Taftan-Chaman cargo service. 

Swati linked the chugging of trains on the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway tracks with the country’s economy.  

The minister also told the meeting that the government is upgrading the old Peshawar road which goes to Torkham.

Sharing an update on the ML-1, Swati said that Rs403 million have been provided for the project.

He said various dry ports and railways stations are being overhauled to make them operational and work on locomotives are being carried out in Mughalpura and Risalpur Railways workshops.

Reporter Rozina Ali