Corruption allegations: Railway workers demand internal audit
Union leader alleges that 96 locomotives purchased from China were of inferior standard.
PREM Secretary alleges that thousands of plots have been given on lease or occupied by land grabbers, politicians and traders in connivance with Railways officials. DESIGN: MUHAMMAD SUHAIB
RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan Railway Employees Movement (PREM) appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique to retrieve hundreds of acres encroached land and conduct an internal audit to identify those responsible for the condition of the department.
PREM Secretary General Ishtiaq Asif alleged that thousands of plots have been given on lease or occupied by land grabbers, politicians and traders in connivance with Railways officials.
He said there are 100,000 employees in the department and it could generate millions of rupees if the plots which have been given on lease were allotted to its employees.
He alleged that 96 locomotives purchased from China were of inferior standard and it cost national exchequer Rs300 million per engine.
“The engines were also larger, for which Railways had to restructure its platforms at further cost, which ran into millions,” he said. Besides, the crank shafts, which are the most important part of engine, were cracked.
He said the situation cannot be corrected by just purchasing new engines. “A complete overhaul of the institution is required,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2013.
Pakistan Railway Employees Movement (PREM) appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique to retrieve hundreds of acres encroached land and conduct an internal audit to identify those responsible for the condition of the department.
PREM Secretary General Ishtiaq Asif alleged that thousands of plots have been given on lease or occupied by land grabbers, politicians and traders in connivance with Railways officials.
He said there are 100,000 employees in the department and it could generate millions of rupees if the plots which have been given on lease were allotted to its employees.
He alleged that 96 locomotives purchased from China were of inferior standard and it cost national exchequer Rs300 million per engine.
“The engines were also larger, for which Railways had to restructure its platforms at further cost, which ran into millions,” he said. Besides, the crank shafts, which are the most important part of engine, were cracked.
He said the situation cannot be corrected by just purchasing new engines. “A complete overhaul of the institution is required,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2013.