ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari has noted that it is time to make a serious review of Pakistan Railways that has accumulated losses of over 40 billion rupees in the past three years and more than half of its rolling stock was overage and unserviceable. The President also advised the government to prepare plans to re-orient railways from a traditional passenger service, handicapped by public sector constraints, to a major cargo transportation business operating on commercial lines. The President gave these remarks during a briefing on revamping Pakistan Railways. Secretary Railways Sami-ul-Haq Khilji gave the briefing. The meeting was attended by Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Minsiter for Railways, Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Salman Siddique, Secretary Finance, Farraukh Qayyum, Secretary EAD, and senior government officials. A former secretary, Pakistan Railways, long retired from service, Naseer Ahmad was also invited to give his suggestions. He also called for an early finalisation of cases for the procurement of engines and coaches to enable railways overcome operational problems. He asked the government to consider setting up a committee of CDA, RDA, representative of provincial governments, to be head by Secretary Railways, to expedite the implementation of Benazir Mass Transit Programme for the twin cities. Briefing the media about the meeting, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the President called for an integrated policy on transportation sector and a workable plan for turning the railways around.