Pakistan Railways demands Rs5b to combat financial crisis

Pakistan Railways faces a Rs2b shortfall in first quarter of current fiscal year; last year's deficit was Rs36b.

Pakistan Railways has demanded that the federal government increase its overdraft by Rs5 billion as it is facing a major financial crisis.

Railways had to bear with a Rs36 billion deficit in the previous fiscal year while in the first quarter of the current fiscal year it is facing a Rs2 billion shortfall.

Pakistan Railways needs financial help on an urgent basis to run its business but the federal government has not yet approved any monetary assistance.

Earlier this week, train drivers of Pakistan Railways called off a strike after being given their salaries.

The employees had earlier protested over the non-payment of their salaries and had blocked a train at the Cantt Railway station in Peshawar.

Train employees of Lahore railway station had also gone on strike over the same issue. Passengers travelling by major express trains were stranded at the City railway station for hours after workers of the Railways Loco Shed went on strike in protest against non-payment of their salaries.

The worst affected were passengers of the Tezgam, Jaffer Express, Karachi Express and the Karakoram Express besides the Rawalpindi-bound railcar.