LAIBA BABAR

LAHORE: Telenor Micro-Finance Bank has offered its services to Pakistan Railways for introducing E-ticketing services at 75000 Easypaisa outlets. That would be called ticketing facilitation centers.

This proposal was presented by the CEO Telenor Ali Riaz Chaudhry to Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique here on Sunday (12 March).

Minister, while commenting on the potential development, remarked: “Railways is undergoing drastic changes and it is necessary to keep it abreast with the modern technologies of the world.

“Our passengers count has surged up to 5 crores which is increasing every day. We will provide a level playing field to all the companies who come up with IT solutions for passenger’s facilitation, Wi-Fi services on railway stations and trains, digitization of system and more”. 

Commenting on the proposed E-ticketing facilitation the Minister opined that would reduce the burden on reservation offices.

A committee has been formed jointly by the Minister Railways and CEO Telenor, which would handle IT-related issues and gauge the feasibility of proposal within a month.

It is pertinent to mention here that E-ticketing system had earlier been implemented in collaboration with UBL Omni, which has now 45,000 outlets across Pakistan.

Special ticket counters are also available at all major railway stations where customers can also enjoy the facility of reloading their wallets.

In result of current E-ticketing system’s success, other financial agents in market have also shown interest in becoming business partners of Pakistan Railways.