Five held for stealing railway equipment

Pakistan Railways Police have arrested a five-member gang involved in stealing valuable railway materials.

The Railway Police conducted an operation at the Mughalpura Workshops, apprehending the five criminals who had stolen valuable materials and fled.

Two days ago, the suspects had broken into the Electric Depot General Store by smashing windows and doors.

They stole 25 different types of railway goods. Among the stolen items, 300 kg of railway materials, including suspension bearings, coils, traction motors, pumps, and pistons, were recovered.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shahid Akhtar, Sajjad, Nasir Khan, Ismail Khan, and Zahidullah. They were arrested by SHO Mughalpura Workshops, Muhammad Sajjad, and his team, Express News reported.

An FIR had already been registered against the suspects at the Railway Police Station Mughalpura Workshops. Police will continue their investigation, seeking to recover more stolen goods and obtain further remand for the suspects.

Earliert there has been a concerning shortage of police personnel at major railway stations across the country. The Bomb Disposal Squad also lacks the necessary equipment.

Staff are being forced to work double or even triple shifts, and several employees, unable to take leave, have fallen ill but continue to work. Despite repeated reminders, no effective action has been taken by the railway headquarters to address these issues.

Neglect turns railway station into dump

Lahore Railway Station, Pakistan's largest and most historic train station has turned into a sprawling garbage dump as a result of neglect and mismanagement.

Despite the presence of hundreds of employees, monthly salaries worth hundreds of thousands of rupees, and associated benefits, the station's management has failed to maintain basic cleanliness.

Visitors and passengers at Lahore Railway Station are met with an appalling sight: garbage and filth have overtaken what was once a scenic and bustling landmark.

The pungent odour forces passengers to endure long waits in discomfort as they await their trains. Facilities, including washrooms and waiting rooms, have fallen into disrepair, suggesting the sanitation staff has abandoned their duties.

Reports indicate that Lahore Railway Station, located just a stone's throw from the railway headquarters, is no longer a place of convenience but a source of hardship for travellers. Rats scurry along platforms three, four, and five, adding to the unsanitary conditions that greet the thousands of passengers who pass through daily.