ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) is planning to launch joint ventures with local universities for capacity building of its academies imparting technical training to railway staff.
“The railway is working on a number of steps to improve performance and capacity building of its staff aimed at ensuring safe and smooth operations of the national fleet,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
He said that PR has taken several steps to increase capacity of its institutions and academies including upgradation of the Pakistan Railway Academy, Walton, by setting up a separate wing for Pakistan Railways Research and Development Centre (PRRDC) comprising state-of-the-art labs having the facility for design, development and management of railway infrastructure and operations.
It had also developed and introduced various teaching modules comprising foundation level and skill level courses for all railway disciplines including traffic and commercial department, mechanical engineering department, civil engineering department, signal and telecom engineering department, electrical engineering department, he added.
The official spoke of upgradation of complete infrastructure including buildings, equipment, laboratories and field testing facilities under the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He said that agreements for technical collaboration with Korean Rail Road Research Institute (KRRI) and Chinese Training Institutes are being explored.
To improve the performance of Technical Training Center Karachi, he said that Pakistan Railways has introduced a state-of-the-art conference room equipped with latest gadgets and improved seating arrangements.
He said Pakistan Railways repaired and upgraded the building of the centre and replaced the old engine models with new ones for demonstration before trainees.
Pakistan Railways has improved the performance of its Police Training School, Walton Lahore, adding that a proposal is under process to upgrade the post of DSP/Principal (BS-17) to SP/Principal (BS-18).
He said an MoU has been signed last year between International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme (ICITAP) and Pakistan Railways Police through Ministry of Railways and Economic Affairs Division, according to which ICITAP agreed to spend $677,000 (Dh2.4 million) for upgradation of the Railway Police Training School.
As per another MoU, various courses are being conducted at the Railway Police Training School for capacity building and skill development for criminal investigation of railway police through ICITAP, he added.
He said at present four institutions and academies including Pakistan Railways Academy, Walton, Lahore; Apprentice Training Centre, Moghalpura, Lahore; Technical Training Centre, Karachi Cantt; and Pakistan Railways Police Training School, Walton, Lahore are working under the Ministry for capacity building of its employees.
