Supreme Court seeks overhaul of Pakistan Railways

Summons report from the department on operations, employees, within a month

The Supreme Court directed on Friday a complete overhaul of the Pakistan Railways and retrenchment of incompetent employees.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed was hearing the petitions pertaining to permanent status of railway employees.

The court sought a detailed report on the operations of Pakistan Railways and its employees within a month.

The railways secretary appeared before the court and earned the court's ire.

"You are unable to run the railways. A train or aircraft accident is no joke. The railway system has become corrupt," remarked the CJP, irked at the railways secretary.

"The railway department is full of incompetent employees who are not loyal to their departments," he said. The railways suffer from frequent accidents which result in heavy loss of life and
property, added CJP Ahmed.

There is no report of these accidents, nor any implementation, the department should immediately initiate a reform process, and weed out incompetent and surplus employees, directed the bench.

The court sought a report from the department within a month and adjourned the hearing.