Railways would not give its land on lease to individuals : Kh Saad

Lahore : Pakistan Railways should devise a complete working plan for remedial management of unauthorized small and medium enterprises on Railways land. Railways companies like REDEMCO, RAILCOP and Property and Land department should prepare the detailed policy in consultation with local and provincial governments, street vendors are integral part of urban economies, this plan would not only provide main source of income for the households of  millions of street vendors but also generate revenue for Pakistan Railways.

Minister Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq was chairing a high level official meeting on policy on street vendors and small markets on Railways land, he was briefed by Director Property and Land Arshad Salam Khattak on the issue at Railways Headquarters Lahore.

He said that Small Model markets would help reduce the encroachments in busiest places of the cities. We need to move forward towards modernization of public markets and these model markets for small street vendors would uplift their working ambience and by offering wide range of products at cheaper rates will facilitate public as well.

A policy on regularization and recovery (last 15 years) from of small and large industries on Railways land was also endorsed in the meeting.

Minister Railways told the officers that Railways would not empower individuals by leasing them out its precious land for commercial purposes, he directed the team to prepare a plan of model market in collaboration with local government in Punjab on selected sections and then the same may be replicated in other provinces.

He said that commercial activity would only be allowed on closed and non operational sections as security and safety remains the prime concern of Pakistan Railways.