The railway facilities of Pakistan truly seem as if they are from a chapter of a dusty history textbook
SHIKARPUR: All around the world, railway systems have been computerised and are equipped with the latest technology. The most successful governments are known to lay special emphasis on the transportation systems which are used by the general public. Efficient transport systems can uplift the lives of the people, and development in this sector can go a long way in improving the people’s standard of living.
However, the Pakistan Railways is still using outdated communication systems, archaic train direction control systems and obsolete rail-crossing locking technology. To control the direction of the train according to the route of the train, the levers which were used during the British period, located on the roof of the cabin next to the crossing, are being used even today. This is a very dangerous process because even the tiniest mistake or oversight made by the railway employee can lead to a terrible accident. If the track is not changed in time, two trains coming from opposite directions can collide with each other. But it seems that there is no interest in upgrading this aspect of the railway system. Instead of initiating new development projects across the length and breadth of the country, it might be more efficient if the government focuses on the existing infrastructure, which has been rotting and deteriorating due to decades of neglect and apathy.
The keys of trains, which again are relics of the British Raj, are being used not only to lock and unlock rail crossing gates but also to lower the signal in order to allow trains to pass. Most of the telegraphing equipment dates back to the days of the British Raj. Jumbo-sized ancient telephones are still being used to communicate from cabin to cabin. The railway facilities of Pakistan truly seem as if they are from a chapter of a dusty history textbook, ready to be transported to museums to elicit the awe of posterity. In Pakistan, the entire railway system needs to be over-hauled and the introduction of the latest technology and computerised systems to make the train journey fast and safe is a must. The railway ministry needs to be at the forefront of development activity and public policy experts need to join hands with politicians in this regard.
Shaikh Abdul Rasheed
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2015.
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