Pakistan Railways: PAC says massive irregularities found

Public Accounts Committee says those responsible for poor conditions will be brought to book.

LAHORE: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said massive irregularities have been found in the Pakistan Railways (PR) department and that those responsible for poor conditions will be brought to book, Express 24/7 reported on Saturday.

A meeting of the committee, chaired by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was held at PR headquarters in Lahore.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sadiq expressed anger over reports that low-quality oil was being used to run locomotives. He said Railways authorities have been directed to take measures to check corruption in the department.

The committee has also decided to initiate an inquiry into the plot scandal and take action against those responsible for illegally possessing plots.

It has directed Pakistan Railways administration and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present a report in this regard within a month.

Earlier, a report by Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) revealed misappropriations and embezzlement of over Rs4 billion in one year by the Pakistan Railways (PR) management.

According to the report presented in the National Assembly, PR had suffered a loss of more than Rs4.57 billion in violation of rules and regulations, in one year.

The report said PR suffered Rs407.2 million loss due to fraud, corruption, theft and misuse of resources while manipulation in accounting figures dented PR with Rs150 million.