The Finance Ministry released Rs2 billion to Pakistan Railways (PR) on Wednesday, giving the beleaguered rail service a chance to pay some of its fuel bills so some trains can keep running.
Railways had faced a suspension of diesel supplies from Pakistan State Oil (PSO) after its bill climbed above Rs1 billion. A PR spokesman said that the company would immediately pay PSO Rs297 million to clear its bounced cheques. “We can’t pay the total outstanding amount as then we will be left with nothing,” he said.
PR will also use the money to pay its retired workers, he said. The PR labour union protested on Wednesday at the company’s failure to give pensioners their cheques.
Meanwhile at the City Railway Station, trains continued to be delayed by several hours or cancelled, leaving platforms crammed with frustrated passengers. Only express trains were departing and arriving. Branch line trains were suspended as 10 locomotives were out of service due to non availability of lube oil.
Many passengers for branch line trains complained that they were kept in the dark about whether their trains would depart or not, as no official word was passed on to them. Some who had bought tickets were forced to travel through other modes of transportation.
“The train was supposed to leave two hours ago,” said Haji Asghar as he waited to go to Kasur. “The Railways people are not giving us a clear answer whether it will leave or not. The booking office told me to contact the station manager, but he was not available.”
Asghar also complained that there was no place to sit or get clean drinking water, and vendors at the station were overcharging on goods. “It is totally out of control,” he said.
Many passengers were devotees of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander, hoping to catch any train south towards Sehwan Sharif in time for the Sufi’s urs, which starts today.
“The Railways people say that they are running at a loss, but where do their revenues go? We just went to the counter and they said they are sold out,” said Ali Ali Husnain. “I think many pilgrims will not get there in time, thanks to Railways.”
A Railways spokesman said that several locomotives had to be taken out of service because they ran out of lube oil. “We have received 50 barrels of lube oil now and will receive more to operate the locomotives which did not leave the shed. All operative locomotives will leave the shed today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Railways pensioners marched on Walton Road in protest at not being provided their cheques.
The protesters said that the pensions were their only source of income and they were in urgent need of the money as Ramazan was approaching.
The PR spokesman claimed that most pay and pension cheques had been paid and that any remaining would be paid today as funds had been put in the Railways account.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (5)
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@Khan: Thanks Khan for sharing your thoughts. However I still differ with your opinion that Privatization will resolve the issue.
Yes. It is true that Privatization will bring Efficiency in the System. But what about Public service? Private Companies will not able to run the Railways at this ticket rate. They will try to increase or they will stop the services wherever not viable. Both will lead to Chaos.
Remember Indian Railways is also Government sector and they are running in profit not because of Privatisation. But they modernised the Signal systems, Ticketing, Reservation and particularly Electrification.
That's why I told our Railway Staff should be aware of these things and the best way is to train them and try to implement the same model followed in Indian Railways (Otherwise China Railways which also a good commercial and service model) in our Railway system.
@Kasim: Its not about training ... its about mindset of Govt employees which you can't change unless you have a functional government which isn't possible in current set up in near future at least ... As from lower ranks to top level officers are Govt employees and now one is held accountable and no one is going to take their jobs from them for not working actively therefore, they will not take it seriously and will keep sipping teas the whole day. There is no comparison between private organization and Govt run departments. Privatize it and each and every single person will be scared to lose their job if they don't work efficiently, only then the whole structure will start working in Railways.
@Khan: I have seen Railway system in Mumbai, which is also run by Government. We should send our Railway staff there to take training. Daily 14,000 trains are running in India without interruption and good profit. Why not ours? Privatization is not the solution. some thing else required.
Ban labour unions as they are main hurdle in progress of country whether in railways, steel mills,PIA, KPT, KESC and outsourcing should be resorted to as done by KESC.
Privatize Railways and it will not only solve the loss problem but will also improve its service .. As we all know Govt employees take it for granted while in private companies you have to work hard to earn your position ... that way new owners will replace this 19th century system with the latest technology and locomotives.