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| August 22, 2005 | Monday | Rajab 16, 1426 |
PR board meeting ignores core issues
LAHORE, Aug 21: None of the 20 items discussed during a recent meeting of the Pakistan Railways Board’s executive committee were related to the core issues concerning the organization at present, it is learnt.
Sources told Dawn that the meeting was presided over by Railways Board chairman Shakil Durrani at the PR headquarters in Lahore over the weekend.
Three items on the agenda each were about train stoppages, the commercial exploitation of railways real estate and transfer of certain PR assets and services to the railways advisory and consultancy services (PRACS).
The committee also discussed working papers on disciplinary action against an AEN, packaged ice cream franchise on railway network and transportation and handling of containers.
Seven papers presented before the committee pertained to upgradation of facilities and infrastructure at the Pakistan Railways Academy, Walton. Four items on the agenda could not be discussed because the railways marketing director and the PRACS did not submit working papers on them.
According to the sources, the committee discussed stoppage of Tipu Express (141-up/142-down) at Sahianwala station, Gunnan Express (209-up) at Kala Khatai, 1-up, 11-up, 31-up, 32-down at Khairpur.
Disciplinary action against Altaf Hussain, the then AEN of Kotri, regarding derailment of Khushal Khattak Express (20-down), was the second item on the agenda.
Commercial exploitation of railways real estate at Peshawar, Attock and Quetta were the seventh and eighth items.
Upgradation or expansion of Dr James Cairns Hospital, Lahore, was also discussed.
The paper on negotiation with M/s Pak Shaheen Containers, Karachi, regarding plot Nos. 21-C & 33 at Kemari, was also discussed.
The committee also discussed transfer of PR’s commercial management, monitoring and customer facilitation of container traffic besides commercial management and passenger facilitation of loss-making trains, particularly Chenab Express (11-up/12-down) and Rohi Express (131-up/132-down) to PRACS.
The papers on the PR Academy sought re-establishment of research and development cell, establishment of material management facility, upgradation of PR Hospital and library on the Walton campus.
Proposals regarding utilization of funds generated from local resources for the upkeep of PRA vicinity, additional honorarium and fixed tenure of posting for the trainers, independent budget for repair and maintenance at the disposal of PRA director-general were also presented before the committee.
The PR Marketing Director could not submit papers on the revised financial terms for commercialisation of bungalow No 22-C on Old Bahawalpur Road at
Multan and for marketing of land for the year 2005-06.
Discussion on transfer of commercial management and passenger facilitation at major railway stations, starting with Hyderabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar to PRACS and transfer of management of the Mayo Gardens Club to PRACS could not be held for want of working papers.
“For the last one year or so, railways has been unable to ensure the safety of passengers and freight. It’s strange to discuss issues like trains stoppage, commercilization of land, disciplinary action against an employee etc at such a highest level,” a retired chairman of the railways said.
“Decision regarding trains stoppage concerns the chief commercial manager concerned, about land and disciplinary action to the divisional superintendent concerned...” he said.
Derailments and accidents should have been atop the agenda of the committee, according to the retired senior officer.
“The need of the hour is to be realistic. For the last couple of years, the railways high-ups have been contemplating on projects which have no link with the ground realities.
“Why the trains are not running properly? What are the operational problems? How can the complaints of passengers and businessmen can be redressed?.
“No attention is being given to the plight of the people who actually run the system — the signal and block workers, the station staff, drivers and firemen — and perform duty almost round-the clock,” the former chairman said.
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