'Authorities bring Railways to the verge of disaster'

Office bearers of the three labour unions of Pakistan Railways (PR) agreed that corruption, political interference, negligence of Railway authorities and mismanagement, are the main causes that have brought Railways on the verge of disaster.
Talking to Business Reorders, Pakistan Railways Employees Union (PREM) Central General Secretary Ishtiaq Aasi said that the incumbent as well as the previous governments were equally responsible for the current situation of Railways. He urged the government to take all stakeholders on board and develop a mechanism to overcome the deteriorating condition of Pakistan Railways. Government should immediately release the package announced last year to purchase locomotives and suggested a committee of people with integrity be established that would keep a check and balance on all PR affairs.
Chairman, Rail Mazdoor Ittehad, Fazl-e-Wahid alleged that substandard diesel and Mobil oil were being used which damaged engines. He further accused the government of purchasing 70 expensive locomotives from China, which could have been assembled in Pakistan much more cheaply. He added that only 100 locomotives of the total 500 are operational.
Ishtiaq General Secretary of Rail Workers Union noted that railway employees have launched a partial strike due to non-payment of salary. Lahore division and workshop labourers held protest demonstrations against the failure of the Federal Minister for Railways to fulfil his promise and release salaries.
The leaders of all three unions agreed that no single individual was responsible for the current deterioration of Railways but that the entity was subjected to systematic and sustained deterioration spanning decades. The office bearers of Railway unions warned the government that if attention was not paid to the deteriorating condition of PR, it would collapse and the entire responsibility would be on the government. The government as a short-term measure issued one Rs one billion for payment of salaries of PR staff. However, most of the employees have yet to receive their salaries.