This is with reference to the report “Railways’ aged locos chugging on extension services pose risks” (May 26). One critical question regarding the matter is: why is the locomotive factory in Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), not producing enough locomotives to replace the aged units or add to the existing fleet?
Besides, the Pakistan Railways Locomotive Factory, established in 1993, has often struggled with low capacity utilisation issue, producing an average of only 10 locomotives per year. As such, since its inception, the factory has never achieved full capacity utilisation in a single year.
Initially, the factory began with the production as well as assembly of 2,000HP diesel-electric locomotives under technology transfer arrangements with a Japanese manufacturer. However, in subsequent years, further technical collaborations were established for local production and assembly of locomotives with American and Chinese companies.
Despite these effective arrangements, Pakistan Railways continues to rely heavily on imports. Moreover, the workshop in Lahore, also known as the Mughalpura Workshop since colonial times, is primarily engaged in the repair, rehabilitation and recommissioning of railway locomotives and coaches. Apart from this, the Islamabad Carriage Factory, built in 1970, has an annual capacity of manufacturing 120 railway coaches. However, between 1971 and 2015, it produced only 2,011 passenger coaches, operating at an average capacity of just 37 per cent.
Currently, to meet the demand, completely built-up units (CBUs) are being imported from China regularly. It is worth noting that the country exported railway coaches and rolling stock valued at $30 million to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2000-21.
Surprisingly, Pakistan Railways Vision 2026 includes building new locomotives, developing and improving current railway infrastructure, and spending significantly on the phased import of more or less 3,000 locomotives and 13,700 carriages.
Is there any hope for optimal utilisation of the manufacturing facilities that are already available across the country?
HUSSAIN AHMAD SIDDIQUI
ISLAMABAD
