Rs 72 million contract awarded for feasibility of Pak-China rail service

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, August 31, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has said the Ministry of Railways has signed a contract with a consortium to prepare the feasibility of planned train service between Pakistan and China as a joint venture.

Talking to APP, the minister said that both countries were going to execute a joint venture for a freight train service, which would be upgraded to a passenger train service, considering the people’s requirements, particularly the business class.

“The government has awarded Rs 72 million contract to an international consortium to carry out a feasibility study for establishing a rail link with China to boost trade relations between the two countries,” said the minister.

The preparation of the feasibility study is to be followed by the preparation of design and PC-1 of the project. He said during his China visit, the project was discussed thoroughly, adding that apparently, there seemed to be no hiccup in the execution of the project. So, both the countries would strive for its early execution, he added.

“The Chinese government also consented to extend cooperation to Pakistan for execution of six development projects,” the minister said. Bilour said Pakistan and China also agreed to establish a consortium for various projects, including the laying of a railway track up to Iran and Afghanistan and construction of coaches in Pakistan.

“For the successful execution of the project, a six-member committee has been constituted, comprising three members each from Pakistan and China,” he said. He added that China had finalised the names of the committee members, but Pakistan was yet to do so. The minister expressed the hope that the consortium, to be set up with the Chinese companies, would lay standard gauge tracks up to the borders of Afghanistan, Iran and China.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195805