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Railways decentralises

publicity wing

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways has decentralised its publicity wing and authorised, in the first phase, Karachi Railways Division to exploit its railway stations, buildings and its lands for publicity purposes with a view to generate revenues for the cash strapped organisation.

Earlier the publicity section of the Railways was managed and supervised by the Headquarter office at Lahore where the revenue generated was insignificant whereas there was vest scope for exploiting this area for generating significant revenue without incurring any expenditure.

According to Railways sources with the transfer of this activity to Karachi Division, the Railways Divisional authorities have started working out expected revenue to be generated and is all set to call "expression of intent" from interested parties.

The divisional authorities, on contact, said they are considering to float the idea of "adopt a railway station" whereby interested parties could adopt a railway station and undertake its face lift, renovation and repair and in turn use its allocated spaces for publicity purposes.

Sources said that this would not only beautify the railway stations along with availability of proper facilities and amenities to travelling public but also generate handsome revenues for the Railways without incurring any expenditure. The revenue so generated would be spent on upgrading the passenger amenities.

However the advertisement in moving trains will remain the subject of headquarter office it is learnt.

Railway has invited the interested advertisers and parties to contact the divisional railway authorities in this regard.ÑAPP