Purchasing a train ticket in Pakistan is a game of survival of the fittest. Long lines, delays and bureaucracy do not help the beginning of a train journey. The recently launched e-ticketing service has also failed to resolve the difficulties involved with purchasing train tickets.
Although the e-ticketing service was launched after a gap of nine years, according to a report by the Auditor General’s office, it is still not fully computerised and the electronic system is manipulated thus creating further problems in reserving berths and seats. As opposed to benefiting Pakistan Railways, the e-ticketing system is then adding to the losses of the already cash-strapped entity.
Malpractices and poor technology has also led to the ticketing system being an unreliable one with the system often showing errors or abruptly shutting down for hours. Pakistan Railway’s online reservations does not yet have the load of all trains and is not available for most trains. But even with this relatively small load, the system is failing to work efficiently. This only harasses consumers and disproportionately targets women, minors and people with disabilities who may not be able to go through the ordeal of standing in long lines.
E-ticketing is neither new nor unique and it is not as if Pakistan cannot cope with e-commerce. Countless online businesses have emerged in recent years, which are running successfully with cashless transactions and barely any physical presence. Airlines have also had successfully running reservation and online ticketing systems. It is unfortunate that our state institutions are slow in keeping up with needs and when a system is developed, it is marred with inefficiency.
Countries in our region have long crossed these barriers and are light years ahead in public transportation services. Bangladesh has had an e-ticketing system since 2012. Meanwhile, China has developed the second longest train network in the world. Pakistan needs to desperately catch up, and at least get a website working right.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2016.
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