Hanif Abbasi chairs key meeting to review performance of railway hospitals, educational institutions & PRACS

ISLAMABAD, March 21 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, chaired a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Railways to assess the performance of Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) and the General Manager Welfare and Special Initiatives (GM W&SI). The meeting focused on the current services, development goals, and future plans of both institutions.

The minister was briefed that currently, eight railway hospitals and 44 dispensaries are operating across the country, providing affordable, quality, and effective healthcare to current and retired railway employees and their families. During the previous year alone, approximately 240,194 outdoor patients benefitted from these facilities. These institutions are equipped with essential medical services including laboratory tests, X-rays, and ultrasound, highlighting the crucial role of Pakistan Railways in the healthcare sector.

The minister directed that the capacity of these hospitals should be increased, and their infrastructure renovated to meet modern standards. He also instructed the relevant departments to explore the possibility of public-private partnerships to enhance service delivery and improve hospital management systems. During the meeting, the minister was also informed that GMW&SI currently oversees 14 schools and one college operating within railway colonies, providing educational services to the children of railway employees. He emphasized the need to further improve the performance and teaching standards of these institutions to enable students to compete at the national level. The performance of PRACS was also thoroughly reviewed.

Minister Hanif Abbasi appreciated the consultancy services provided by PRACS and stressed the importance of aligning the organization with modern-day requirements. He emphasized the need to reduce expenditures, ensure transparency, and define clear and measurable targets to enhance the effectiveness of the organization. He further announced that a comprehensive performance review of PRACS would be conducted in June 2025 to ensure achievement of the outlined objectives. The minister reiterated that enhancing institutional efficiency and improving services is essential to fulfill Pakistan Railways’ long-term vision. He urged both PRACS and GMW&SI to demonstrate tangible results and improved performance in the coming months. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of Pakistan Railways, members of the Board of Directors, and other senior officials.