A business delegation from Austria has discussed with Pakistan's Railways Minister Shamim Hyder the affairs of mutual interest vis-à-vis the revival of Pakistan Railways through material and technical assistance. Dr. Nikolaus Siewald leads the Austrian delegation. Maj-Gen (retd) Hamid Hassan Butt, the General Manager of Pakistan's Railways for Maintenance & Services affairs, thanked the delegation for extending all possible assistance by Austria to revamp the system of the railways department since 1982. The Austrian government released $20 million loan on soft terms in 2000 for purchase of equipments and machines, which were mostly required for the construction of bridges and laying of tracks. Maj.Gen Hamid Butt hoped that the Austrian government would release another installment of approximately $20 million. Dr. Siewald pledged that Austria would keep on helping the Pakistan Railways in any sector asked for.