Back on track

Following the Lahore High Court’s dismissal of a notification issued by Pakistan Railways in July, suspending six train services including the Shalimar Express between Karachi and Lahore, the federal railways minister has said the trains will be restored as soon as possible. He has, however, warned that this would mean further losses for railways, which need new engines and repairs to many old ones.

How Pakistan Railways plunged to these depths is a story in itself. The extensive network of tracks which wind their way across the country should have meant trains could be run along them to offer an economical means of travel to people. Across the border, the system set up — like ours — in colonial times has been improved on and expanded. Plush new trains transport tourists and locals between cities, also bringing in profits. It is unfortunate we have allowed our own set-up to instead fall into decay. Even relatively new trains are already rundown and the safety of tracks which have suffered due to poor maintenance has come under question.

The LHC has said a commission will be set up to look into the mismanagement of train services. But essentially we do not need experts to determine what is wrong. Negligence, nepotism, lack of merit and corruption have taken their toll on the railways just as they have on so many other government-run institutions and services. The real challenge is not posed by resuming a few trains, but the question of how to get the railways up and running once more. There is a great deal of potential — especially when air travel is becoming rapidly more expensive and beyond the reach of more and more people. Perhaps the LHC verdict can motivate railway officials to make a full assessment of the situation and draw up a strategy to revive rail travel in a country where it could – and should – serve the travel needs of millions of people.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.