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Pakistan Railways, lifeline of the country, is a national state-run transport service.

It is under the administration of federal government and its head quarter is in Lahore. It is an important source of transportation throughout Pakistan. It carries millions of passengers throughout the country. It used to carry huge freight in Pakistan. This cheap and safe mode for passengers is now facing a number of issues. A number of services of Pakistan Railways have been cancelled, suspended or terminated and many more will be suspended in near future because of mismanagement and shortage of locomotives, fuel and money. The chapter of all major services, from Lahore to Karachi, has been closed. It is pertinent to mention that all AC services have been stopped. The incompetent administration has failed to attain locomotives from any quarter of the world. Passengers are suffering due to mismanagement of administration. Pakistan Railways decision to suspend goods train service due to severe shortage of locomotives and fuel is another blow to this organization. It is now basically financially bankrupt organization. In other words it is on the verge of financial collapse. The political interference, nepotism, corruption, poor maintenance of tracks & bridges and mismanagement in almost every field are the major causes of failure of Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways purchased 69 completely built locomotive units from China under 2003 agreement. These are about 37% cheaper than the European locomotives but considered to be faulty. It is stated that 32 of these have already been scraped. Dong Fang Electric Corporation has been severely criticized for producing low quality locomotives. The other viewpoint is that misuse of the machinery was the major cause of the failure of Chinese locomotives. According to Sheikh Rashid, the former railway minister, crankshafts of locomotives worth Rs10 million were damaged because of the use of substandard lubrication oil. It may be mentioned here that normally a locomotive consists of six traction motors while the Pakistan Railways is operating them with only three or four motors. This is the major cause of midway breakdown of trains. The passengers, in such a case, have to wait for a long time till repair or replacement of faulty engine takes place. Naturally trains are too late and passengers can be seen sitting at platforms with their luggage. A number oftrains lack facility of light at nights because of the failure of the generators and ill attitude of management. Another reason that prevents people to go by train is increase in corruption by the ticketing officials. The reservation of birth is an uphill task. There are complaints that reservation is confirmed after receiving bribe of hundred or more rupees by passengers. Pakistan Railways is no more the best choice to travel for the passengers. Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, federal minister for Pakistan Railways, is a very controversial figure. He is considered to be somewhat responsible for the deteriorating situation of Pakistan Railways. His viewpoint is that the whole railway system is obsolete. He complains that half of the total locomotives are out of order. Almost 86 % bridges are more than 100 years old. The trains, tracks and machinery are outdated or faulty. He says that Pakistan needs 25 to 30 engines annually. He is now making a plan to repair, hire or lease locomotives in collaboration with the private sector. Moreover, he believes that a bailout package can be helpful to overpower the crisis. According to him delay in funds to Railways is the root cause of the crisis. He accuses the federal government for not releasing remarkable funds for the betterment of Pakistan Railways. All his plans may end in failure because of corruption in the management, financial problems, his ill-advised attitude and lack of vision. The efficiency of the railway minister is evident from its almost nil performance. He believes that two mafia gangs are very strong in Pakistan Railways but finds himself incapable to take any action against them. He seems to be too weak to solve the issues and problems faced by his ministry.

The Chief Justice has expressed his disapproval for the high-ups of Railways in the following comments: Ninety metric tons of silver worth millions was sold for mere Rs28,000 as scrap, while a light bulb worth Rs60 is being purchased at Rs400, whereas absence of maintenance turned expensive locomotives into junk one by one, besides a Grade-18 officer, a blue-eyed boy of the railways minister, is promoted to hold a Grade-20 post of secretary purchase. In the words of Chief Justice the electricity wires meant for electric trains from Lahore to Khanewal have been stolen. Moreover, he observed that tickets were sold in advance outside ticket counters and tickets were not available at railway stations. It is also in the notice of the apex court that land mafia has grabbed Pakistan Railways land in different areas of the country. He has already ordered the railways to approach the Sindh administration in this connection. Nonetheless, everybody knows the efficiency of the present Sindh government. Railways needed Rs2.2 billion to pay the salaries and pension to its protesting employees but the government has not released enough money to overpower the deep financial crisis. The economy of the country is under severe pressure and the poor administration seems to be unable to solve the problem. The apex court has already remarked Railways should take steps to make it functional as early as possible. Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, former railway minister, blames corrupt officers of the department for the present situation in Pakistan Railways. According to him only 156 locomotives out of 500 are in normal working condition. According to his statement 15,000 freight wagons are not plying in the country and the business has gone in the hands of the private sector. He claims that 200 coaches and several locomotives, imported from China, could have been manufactured in the local Carriage Factory in Islamabad. Due to imported coaches and machinery several labourers have lost their jobs or sent on forced leave. A limited number of loaders have been appointed by the administration on the platforms to carry the luggage of the passengers. It is stated that a particular amount of money is received by the administration as a bribe from these poor loaders. In return they are allowed to receive hundred rupees from the passenger to carry the luggage. A private firm has been working under the contract to transport goods including medicines, carpets, furniture and electronic appliances through Pakistan Railways. The monopoly of this firm is an obstacle in the free trade of different goods. Pakistan Railways should create competitive atmosphere to provide the customers with more facilities. Pakistan Railways losses have reached billions of rupees. It seems difficult to bring trainsback on tracks in the present circumstances. The situation may not change unless corrupt high-ups are removed, suspended and dismissed from the services. To restructure and modernise Pakistan Railways under the present administration seems to be the dream of a mad man. Pakistan Railways is sinking in the sea of corruption as no serious efforts are being made to eradicate it from this department.

Pakistan Railways is one of the government institutions that is regularly running in losses of billions of rupees each year and is still demanding as many rupees from government to bring trains back on tracks in order to provide facilities to customers both in terms of traveling and transportation of goods.Peshawar Railway Station is one of the six divisions of Pakistan Railways that has track linked with other main cities of the country, but unfortunately, the residents of Peshawar as well as other parts of the province are reluctant to travel by train because it does not provide them conveyance but makes them more perturb instead of giving relief.The Railways claims that it gives facilities to passengers and business communities. There are five trains Khoshhal Khan Express, Awam Express, Lahore Passenger, Quetta Express and Khyber Mail that links Peshawar with other parts of the country. Officials on the Railway Station informed The Frontier Post that people were reluctant to travel by trains because the administration did not give the surety about the exact departure and arrival timings of the trains.They added that one of the major problem that railway department had was the unavailability of locomotive engines. The trains after reaching destination needed complete maintenance and if there were any fault in the engine or in any other parts of the train, than there were no alternative engines with administration to make the train moving forward on time. The passengers under such circumstances had to wait for 6 to 12 hours and that was the reason that people avoid traveling by train and preferred others way of traveling and transportion.Another reason that prevents people to go by train was the increase in corruption by the ticketing officials. When customers inquire about reservation of berth, the office refuse and say that there is no vacant seats on the train. They provide seat if someone offer them bribe of one hundred rupees or more.The passengers were facing great problems because of lack of loaders on the railway station. The administration had allowed just five loaders who charged rupees one hundred per trip from the travelers to carry their luggage.Talking to The Frontier Post on condition of anonymity, one of the loaders said out of rupees one hundred, he gave 30 to the contractor and paid rupees 20 as rent of pushcart to the administration, adding, most of the people carried their good on themselves because it added to their expenses. Officials said that most of the train had no facility to provide lights at nights because the generators placed in the trains were out of order and it perturbed passengers during nights.Talking with officials in cargo section, The Frontier Post learned that a private firm Lansania Itehad Rail Cargo Services had be given the contract to transport goods including medicines, carpets, furniture and electronic appliances. As such traders have to send their goods through this firm. It is a kind of monopoly which can only hurt business. They said government cargo was much helpful for the businessmen because it offered low charges as compared to the private one but most of the people send their goods through Lasania Cargo because it facilitate customers with To-Pay Service (a mechanism that help businessmen to pay charges after goods reach destination), the official added. He said that the same facility was there in government cargo but later its was discontinued.They said that railways could generate revenue but the private company was the main hurdle in this connection. The administration had provided a separate portion to the private firm in every train for transportation of commercial goods. On the other hand, government cargo hardly finds space to transport commercial goods and the officials had to wait for days to facilitate customers because of the unavailability of space in the trains. The officials in Inward Parcel Office informed that goods were stored in office for several days due to lack of space in trains for government-cargo, adding, that was the reason that people paid high charges to the private company.They suggested that if the government withdrew its decision regarding To-Pay services to the customers on goods than railways could easily come out from bankruptcy and could be able to generate revenue. They also added that the performance of marketing section of Peshawar division was nil as they had never arranged any seminar or meeting with business community to attract them to transport their goods via railways cargo on low charges.

LAHORE: Railways workers disrupted trains and road traffic in protest at unpaid salaries in the city here on Saturday.

The workers stopped locomotives during a protest at the Lahore Washing Line, delaying several other trains as well in the process. They chanted slogans accusing the government and Railways administration of ruining the state rail service and neglecting its many workers. The protestors later marched from the City Railway Station to Ghari Shahu Bridge and blocked the road. Addressing the rally, the workers leaders said they had formed an alliance to save the cash-strapped Pakistan Railways. They said they would launch countrywide protests and jam the entire rail network if they did not start getting their salaries on time. Former Railways minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed joined the protesters and claimed he could fix PR in two months. At a sit-in at the City Station, Ahmed told the workers that he would also protest and press the government to get PRs act together. I can streamline Railways within two months. If I fail, they can hang me in front of Lal Haveli, said the minister, referring to his famous residence in Rawalpindi. Earlier, Ahmed and workers of his Awami Muslim League party marched from his office on Davis Road to the City Railway Station to join the protesting workers. He demanded that corrupt PIA and Railways officials be put on the Exit Control List so they could not flee the country. He alleged that there was a tussle over commission on contracts for new engines between the PR minister and chairman. No efforts are being made to streamline Pakistan Railways affairs despite the problems the passengers are facing, he said. Ahmed said that over Rs2 billion had been plundered in the name of repair of faulty locomotives, while no actual repairs had been done. He said that only 84 locomotives were currently fit enough to run and many of these were also on the verge of breakdown. He accused the government of neglecting the rail service. He also said there was a conspiracy afoot to destroy rail infrastructure, since kerosene oil was being used in the engines and this led to faults in the locomotives. He said Pakistan did not have enough oil stock to last a day when India had enough stock for 90 days. To a question, Ahmed said that he wanted to see the unification of all factions of the Muslim League, but Nawaz Sharif was not working towards this. Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.
an you believe a company that has not made a dime in profit , maintaining its 90,000 employment force and expecting Pakistani Government to bail them out? Its ridiculous

And its not like in Musharraf's time , care was not taken this organization even made profit during Musharraf's time and plans were in place so that every year Pakistan would indigenous produce 10 locomotives , and also repair 10-20 locomotives This was done not 20 years ago just 2-3 years ago .... brand new engines were imported in and factories were setup for repair of engines

But Railway - workers have found that if they show up to work or don't do any work they will still get paid by the next government and that has to stop. How can that stop when Pink slips are handed out in company it will force the donkeys to start working. If Engines are not being cared for , I am sorry but are there no departments meant for evaluation and care of locomotives , start a criminal investigation. If someone did not appoint people to such roles then start criminal investigation on these head of departments for neglect Every 3-4 years coming begging government for bail out is none sense a) People use rail ways fact of life b) People say every time they come to purchase tickets they can't because ppl are charging 100 rupees more for booking tickets c) People say even after delays they come to trains as its a cheap mode of travel So business is there - then why is Pakistan Railways in Loss?? Cash-starved Pakistan Railways terminates 75 train services * Only one-day fuel is left in state-owned organisations stores KARACHI: Pakistan Railways (PR) has terminated 75 train services whereas 28 more will likely to meet same fate, making it worst scenario for rail passengers. PR has already been on the verge of financial collapse, while this move will further amplify their problems. A PR officer on the condition of anonymity told PPI that earlier, the department had 260 train services - 220 passengers and 40 goods trains- which used to cater to the needs of thousands of commuters every day. However, from 2008 to 2010, 75 train services were terminated, while 28 others will soon be ceased. Thereafter, only 157 train services will cover a population of 180 million that will further add to the already helpless passengers. On the other hand, sources say that only one day of fuel is left in the oil stores of PR. Usually, fuel supply for five days is maintained by the national organisation. When fuel for two or three days is left the department purchases more oil from PSO but no such effort has been done this time around. Experts believe that even a days irregularity will cause immense nuisance to thousands of passengers throughout the country. PR Workers Union Chairman Manzoor Ahmed Razi told PPI that the reduction of train services would add further load to the already overloaded trains as the department would be forced to add additional bogies to adjust the traffic of

passengers. It may be mentioned here that normally a locomotive consists of six traction motors while the PR is operating them with only three or four motors, therefore, they breakdown midway through their journey. Adding further bogies will add more load to locomotive engines, resulting in more mid-journey breakdowns. 20,000 employees awaiting salaries: As the cash-strapped Pakistan Railways is up against a new problem almost every day. The salaries of more than 20,000 B tour employees are pending, causing indignation among them whereas 0.1 million ex-employees are also awaiting pensions. As per details, retirement dues, including gratuity, provident fund and others of 1500 retired officials are also pending, causing great concern to the ex-employees, particularly after looking at the state of affairs of the department. An ex-employee, on the condition of anonymity, told PPI, Already it has been six month since I retired and after looking at the state of affairs of Pakistan Railways, it is hard to imagine that retired employees will get there funds soon. Chairman PR Workers Union Manzoor Ahmed Razi has demanded of the Finance Division General Headquarters to immediately release the salaries and allowances of present and exemployees. Ppi

my uncle is a grade 21 officer in the Railcop division. His hair is graying, he's on antidepressants now.

it needs to be privatized.......some of the capital needs to be liquidated. They have a cash flow problem, they also face circular debt, it's mismanaged, it's over-staffed like crazy, inefficient, many of the locomotives are antiques

Pakistan Railways as an organization is much more succesful in Saudi Arabia than it is in its own country of origin.

PIA and Railways need to be privatized........nationally owned enterprises are almost always bound to f*ck up, especially in a country like Pakistan. I even think civilian-run (nonmilitary) enterprises at H.I.T. also need to be privatized to become more efficient
Fear is NO Policy

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