LAHORE:
Pakistan Railways has once again initiated efforts to execute passenger trains in collaboration with the private sector, issuing a new announcement to outsource 11 trains operations.
The trains selected for subcontracting include Hazara Express, Millat Express, Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Suback Kharam, Thal Express, Rawal Express, Badar Express, Ghauri Express, Ravi Express, Mohenjo Daro Passenger and Faiz Ahmad Faiz Passenger.
According to official sources, technical offers for the outsourcing process will open on August 12. Railway officials said that this was not the first attempt to bring the private sector on board to operate these trains as in a previous round, the PR had floated a similar tender for the same 11 trains.
However, only two companies presented offers and that also for Shalimar Express. There were no offers for the remaining ten trains. In the light of the mediocre response, the PR has decided to restart the outsourcing process for the same trains, waiting for a broader interest this time.
