Austrian Firm Shows Interest in ML-1 Project, Senate Committee Informed

ISLAMABAD: Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways, stated on Monday that the Pakistani Ambassador in Austria recently informed a delegation of Pakistani senators about an Austrian company’s interest in participating in the construction of the ML-1 project.

While presiding over the Senate Standing Committee on Railways meeting, Senator Saifullah Khan advised the Federal Ministry of Railways to also consider this option. Responding to the chair, the federal secretary of the Ministry of Railways mentioned that opening the project’s construction to entities other than China would necessitate international bidding.

The railways secretary informed the committee about the Punjab government’s investment in rail development, noting that Pakistan Railways (PR) has pinpointed eight routes, including Rawalpindi-Lahore, for potential investment by the Punjab government. The Punjab government recently indicated its willingness to invest Rs350 billion in upgrading the railway network within the province.

During the discussion, Senator Shahadat Awan voiced serious concerns regarding financial losses, corruption, and railway mishaps that have occurred over the past five years.

Awan criticized the ministry for consistently providing inaccurate and delayed information to the committee, labeling it a breach of privilege and a failure to adhere to parliamentary instructions.

He pointed out that despite sending three reminders and referring the matter to the privileges committee, the ministry had not yet provided accurate and comprehensive data.

Awan stressed that the ministry must hold accountable the officials who misled the committee and failed to deliver the promised information within the agreed-upon timelines. He highlighted that over 3,200 FIRs had been registered, and despite assurances made during previous meetings, including promises of revised records within 15 days, accurate figures were still outstanding.

Chairman Senator Jam Saifullah Khan expressed profound concern over the ministry’s lack of seriousness in responding to the committee’s directives. He asserted that providing incorrect or incomplete data not only impedes the committee’s oversight function but also raises significant questions about internal accountability measures.

The committee urged the ministry to address the matter seriously and ensure that officials responsible for misinformation are identified and that action is taken against them. The chairman emphasised the committee’s expectation of due diligence and transparency, especially in cases involving substantial public funds. He instructed that comprehensive details of all FIRs, pending investigations, conviction statuses, and recovery efforts be submitted before the next meeting. He emphasised that the implementation of court rulings and audit findings must be tracked and shared with the committee.

The ministry reported to the committee that a total of 3,230 FIRs had been filed in the past five years, citing theft, embezzlement, and abuse of authority. Of the Rs212.883 million in reported property losses, Rs109.487 million had been recovered.

The secretary of the Ministry of Railways acknowledged that previous reports contained inconsistencies due to confusion between calendar and fiscal years but stated that the data has since been reconciled. He added that 1,555 accused individuals have been convicted, while 309 have been acquitted, and 1080 cases remain under trial. However, Senator Awan questioned the ministry’s failure to disclose progress on several long-pending FIRs and called for the disclosure of reopened and unresolved cases, along with full police cooperation.

The committee also assessed the Karachi–Rohri railway line under the ML-1 project, which the ministry identified as a critical bottleneck in the national rail network.

Secretary Railways informed the committee that the ministry is exploring alternative financing options with development partners. The committee chairman emphasised the need to evaluate the viability of public-private partnerships. The ministry assured the committee that financing avenues beyond CPEC are being actively explored and acknowledged the necessity for immediate investment to sustain railway operations.

Jam Saifullah Khan also addressed the issue of railway land encroachment, particularly in Karachi, where the value of occupied land amounts to billions. He advocated for a transparent mechanism to recover and monetise underutilised high-value land assets, suggesting that the revenue could potentially finance essential infrastructure. He noted that corruption complaints continue to surface, particularly concerning commercial land holdings, and instructed the ministry to submit a clear policy for land management and recovery.

The committee also reviewed the outdated infrastructure and the absence of train services in underserved regions such as Balochistan. Senator Saifullah urged the ministry to prioritise operational efficiency and ensure equitable service provision across all provinces. He concluded the meeting by stating that the committee will reconvene before the end of next month and anticipates full compliance with its directives, including the submission of all pending records, the status of disciplinary actions, and updates on strategic projects.