ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Chinese experts will visit Pakistan later this month, and the financial plan of the ML-1 project will be finalised. Work on the project will begin immediately after bidding, the Ministry of Railways informed the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Railways.

Terming ML-1 a game changer project, the committee recommended that work on the project should be started as early as possible, and that other tracks be repaired as well.

The committee held its meeting at the Parliament House on Tuesday, with its Chairman Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan in the chair.

Jamshaid Ahmed apprised the committee of encroachment at Pakistan Railways land measuring 416 Kanals at Chanab West Bank Station Yard of Mouza Sonaki since 1991. An unauthorised park was established at the land which was now being auctioned, he added.

The Ministry of Railways replied that a writ petition had been filed in the High Court against the auction, and also for the transfer of land in the name of Railways which was under trial in the court.

The committee recommended the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways to approach the Muzaffargarh district government to resolve the matter, otherwise, the concerned commissioner and the deputy commissioner will be called in the next meeting.

The committee asked the ministry about Rs. 12.49 billion corruption case in the Railways as per audit paras of Financial Year 2021-22.

The Ministry of Railways replied that the loss of Rs. 12.49 billion was not based on facts as most of the paras showed potential loss due to non-leasing which could not be termed loss on account of corruption.

The committee recommended the Director General (Property & Land) to brief it about the details of all 46 audit paras regarding that issue in the next meeting.

Later on, the committee asked about security arrangements at railway stations, and also about the recruitment process of constables in the Railways Police.

The committee recommended the ministry to appoint constables and other staff on merit by following quota of the federal government, and also asked to install/ repair security cameras, walk-through gates, and luggage checking gates on priority a basis.

The committee emphasised the presence of the minister concerned in the meeting as he had not attended any meeting of the committee.

The meeting was attended by Ramesh Lal, Waseem Qadir, Ibrar Ahmad, Haji Jamal Shah Kakar, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Shafqat Abbas, Sadiq Ali Memon, Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, Syed Waseem Hussain, Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui, Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhary, Fazal Muhammad Khan and Muhammad Jamal Ahsan Khan, MNAs. Senior officers from the Ministry of Railways and Pakistan Railways were also present.