Senate panel for improving Quetta-Chaman train condition

Directs railways officials to ensure provision of electricity, increase number of boogies from 3 to 6

ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of complaints, the Senate Standing Committee on Railways has directed the relevant authority to ensure availability of electricity in Quetta-Chaman train within a week as well as increase the number of its passenger bogies to six.

The issues like lack of electricity, water, bogies and broken windows came up for discussion during the meeting of the Senate standing committee held at the Parliament House on Tuesday. The meeting of the committee was presided over by its Chairman Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo.

In the meeting, the railways officials apprised the committee that the Quetta-Chaman train was being used to smuggle goods. “They [goods] are hidden in seats,” they added.
Senator Usman Kakar said, “The Quetta-Chaman train has only three passenger bogies. There are no lights in the train, no water and the window glasses are also missing.

“In the British era, there were two Quetta-Chaman trains, but now there are only one.
“Customs officials stop the train midway.”
The railways officials said, “The FC personnel stop the train, not the customs’ officials.”

They said, “The Quetta-Chaman train runs during the day only. It returns before sunset, which is why there is no need for electricity. Due to separate systems of 110 watts and 220 watts in the bogies, the issue of electricity persists; however, now we have provided emergency lights to the guards in the train.”

The committee directed the railways officials to ensure proper provision of lights in the train within a week and increase the number of bogies of the train to six.

On broken windows, the railways officials blamed the children for breaking them by pelting stones, which they got repaired.
Inspector General of Railways Police Wajid Zia apprised the committee that the railways police performed their duties by checking the luggage of passengers for weapons and drugs; however, curbing smuggling was the customs duty.

Chairman Junejo said, “If so much smuggling is taking place, we should see whether the train should be run or not.”
Junejo suggested Senator Mirza Afridi to raise the smuggling issue in the Senate so that Senate chairman could refer it to the interior committee.

Railways officials said the Sibi-Harnai train was shutdown 15 years ago due to floods and terrorist activities. “Now the Sibi-Harnai track has been reinstated and only work on erecting signals is left. We have asked the Balochistan government to provide security. The moment security is provided, work will be completed and the Sibi-Harnai train will be operational.”