Getting back on track
October 31’s hearing in the Supreme Court of Pakistan into the case of railway pensioners not being paid on time suggested that the apex court will likely address the broader issues of the finances of the national carrier. The court’s questions about the purchases and repairs of locomotives means that the superior judiciary recognises that the root of the problem is not a temporary financial one, but a broader one that involves grossly incompetent management and an utter failure to come up with and execute a strategic vision.
The railways are an important national institution. Few realise that, even with the badly maintained locomotives, rail transportation is by far the cheapest way to move goods across the country. Getting this institution back on its feet is important, which is why it is equally crucial to diagnose the problem properly. Pakistan Railways should also consider following India’s example. They have computerised their ticketing system to minimise theft, which in the Pakistani case is quite significant.
The issue with the railways is not government corruption, but rather that of bad management and a refusal to adapt to changing circumstances to come up with innovative solutions. The problem did not originate under this administration and we would like to commend Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh for seeking more permanent solutions. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party, however, has consistently refused to cooperate and seems to lack the vision and leadership capacity necessary to turn around an important national institution. If he cannot do the job himself, he should perhaps turn it over to somebody who can.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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we should invite the Indian Railways to takeover and run the Pakistan Railways. Seriously.
At this juncture, It is absolutely necessary to look at Indian Railways because it is our neighbour and both countries inherited same railway infrastructure from British. Indian Railways run 18800 short and long distance passenger and goods trains carrying 22 million people and 2.5 million tonnes of goods everyday. It employs 1.4 million people. New lines covering 1000 km are laid every year. Concessional fares are allowed for different types of people including senior citizens. Hundreds of extra trips are made during festival rush.
What is wrong in learning something good from them. When some institution like Pakistan Railways unable to pay even salaries to its employees, it is nothing but bankrupt. Unless drastic measures are taken, our railways will go into history. People should demand explanation from the Railways minister and departmental heads why this department derailed.
Bilour is hardly interested in Pakistan Railway's betterment. But the finance minister is no saint too, the lethal combination for railway ANP + PPP is working; nepotism at its best!
As punishment for mismanaging PR the minister should be made minister in charge of PIA.
The railway minister has least interest in Pakistan railways. He would be the last person in this country to think for betterment of PR.
Why this continuous bashing of ANP and its ministers in the Pakistani media? Commending Shaikh - that's funny. This is the finance minister who boasted that Pakistan doesn't need the IMF help because it was inconvenient to his political masters to implement the reforms. He then said that the country can survive through 2012 without IMF funding. His estimates on tax revenues as well as foreign exchange outflow have been way off the mark. He is now secretly begging the US for help with getting back IMF funding. Great job, Shaikh!