Parliamentary panel was told: 63pc of PR locomotives have exceeded their lifespans

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was informed that 63 percent of Pakistan Railways’ locomotives have exceeded their operational lifespan, as out of a total of 439 operational locomotives, 275 are over-aged.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways, which met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of MNA Ramesh Lal, also expressed serious anger over the continued absence of the Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi from the parliamentary proceedings.

The committee was briefed on the issue of train engine failures, which have caused delays and inconvenience to passengers. It was informed that locomotive failures have slightly increased compared to previous years, primarily due to an aging fleet, with over 63 percent of locomotives having exceeded 20 years of service.

The committee was apprised of corrective measures, including improved maintenance practices, enhanced budgetary allocations, training of technical staff, procurement of quality materials through third-party inspections, and technical assistance from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Plans for the overhauling and modernization of diesel-electric locomotives were also shared.

The committee was further briefed on the availability of passenger coaches in Pakistan Railways. It was clarified that the shortage of coaches faced since June 2025 has largely been overcome through improved efficiency of workshops and the restoration of under-repair coaches.

Coach availability has increased from 1,016 in September 2025 to 1,105, against a requirement of 1,100, and is expected to reach 1,150 by June 2026.

The Committee was also informed that Pakistan Railways achieved record passenger earnings of Rs48.832 billion during FY 2024–25, while earnings during the first six months of the current fiscal year have shown a seven percent increase compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

The Secretary, Pakistan Railways, briefed the committee in detail on issues relating to the restructuring and outsourcing of various sections of the railways to improve efficiency and enhance passenger services.

After deliberations, the Committee constituted a Sub-Committee to further examine the matters.

Regarding service quality, the Committee reviewed the issue of non-functional air-conditioning units in passenger coaches. It was stated that failures have increased due to over-aged AC units; however, the replacement process is underway.

Out of 153 new AC units procured, 85 have already been installed, while the remaining units are expected to be installed by March 2026. Progress regarding the overhauling of power vans and the procurement of spare parts was also shared with the Committee.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026