Railways Degraded Under The Watch Of The PTI Government

LAHORE: A forensic audit by Pakistan’s Auditor General found that the Pakistan Railways continued to lose money despite two ministers taking charge of the department during over three years of the PTI administration.

After the PTI took power, two ministers: Sheikh Rashid and Azam Swati led the railways. However, throughout their tenures, younger officers were given crucial positions and significant tasks, which resulted in losses and an increase in the frequency of accidents.

While Sheikh Rashid was in charge, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) became active and sought an answer to accusations of fraudulent recruiting in the Rawalpindi division from former DS Munawar Shah, but they transferred the officer to another department on deputation.

At least 135 train mishaps have happened in the previous three years, including a fire on the Tezgam that killed 75 people. When two trains crashed in the Sukkur division under the leadership of Azam Swati, they killed 70 persons.

There were over 400 people laid off during Swati’s leadership, but they hired a big number of executives from private industry on hefty wages. Despite efforts to eliminate the department, the ministers saw no new recruits for the Railways police.

According to the forensic audit study, the railroads have run a cumulative operating deficit of Rs333.81 billion over the previous nine years, although government subsidies increased from Rs23 to 45 billion, yearly during the same time period.

Rashid’s term was criticised because a subordinate officer was given the significant role of senior general manager, in charge of the railroads. However, 135 train accidents happened because of his inexperience and lack of expertise working on the operating set.

While Rashid was in office, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) took action after learning of fraudulent recruiting, however, the official was moved on assignment to the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The railways also lost tens of millions of rupees worth of train stock.

Private sector personnel were hired as officers and paid enormous wages when Rashid was replaced by Senator Swati in order to privatise the railroads. Junior and inexperienced police were often granted prominent positions.

Despite ticket increases, customers did not benefit from improved travel amenities. There were not enough personnel in all eight divisions of Railways to handle the demand, so the remaining employees were forced to take on more work than they could handle.

When Sawati was in charge, efforts were made to disband the Railway Police, a major aspect of the agency. Rail Police’s performance was not further improved by the inspector general of railway police.