HYDERABAD, May 8: The chairman of Pakistan Railways, Saeed-uz-Zafar, has asked the Sindh governor to direct the civil authorities to cooperate in collection of toll tax and refrain Nazims from unlawful interference in the functioning of the railways.

In a letter addressed to the Sindh governor, a copy of which was also endorsed by Dadu District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar, Mr Zafar said that the Pakistan Railways (PR) was collecting toll tax on rail-cum road bridges throughout the country and the funds so generated were being used for the maintenance of these bridges.

The letter, which was also faxed to Dawn, said that accordingly, toll tax had been levied on railway-cum road bridge at Kotri but the Nazims of the area were creating hurdles in the collection of the toll tax and the district administration, including police, was not lending any support to prevent this unlawful interference.

The PR chairman pointed out that during a strike call on April 8, the district police took away furniture and cash receipts from the counter and threatened the toll tax staff of dire consequences.

He said the Nazim of union council-1, Kotri city, had also threatened the railway contractor of dire consequences if he continued the collection of the toll tax and he had also passed a resolution to withdraw the tax.

He said the Pakistan Railways, under clause 51 of the 1890 Railways Act, could charge toll on the traffic using the roadways it had provided and accordingly it had imposed toll tax on all rail-cum-road bridges throughout the country.

The PR chairman said the Sindh government had also consented to the imposition of toll tax on the bridge in writing.

He said the National Highway Authority and the provincial highway department had also imposed toll tax on road users for various highways and bridges throughout the country to which no objection had been raised from any quarter so far.

He said that no complaint had been received from anywhere throughout the country where such toll tax had been imposed by the Pakistan Railways.

He said the resolution passed by the Kotri union council was not binding on the Pakistan Railways and that such a move was uncalled for as private daily commuters were already enjoying the concession of one time payment in 24 hours which was exceptional to the Kotri bridge.

ARRESTS: In the ongoing crackdown against criminals, the Hyderabad region police during the last 48 hours have arrested 18 criminals. The criminals included Patharidars, proclaimed offenders and absconders.