November 26, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 4, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: Go-slow by drivers of locomotives continued for the fifth day as Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s warning of punitive action against protesting personnel went unheeded.

Major impact was being felt on freight trains, though punctuality of passenger trains improved on Saturday.

Locomotive drivers and shunters had been going by the book and refusing to work overtime since Monday (Nov 20) to press for their demands for increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.

The railways minister had warned that employees found guilty of resorting to “go-slow” would be sacked and fresh recruitment made to replace them.

Additional General Manager (Freight) Ali Arif, while explaining his department’s strategy to counter the go-slow drive, said preference was being given to punctuality of passenger trains, while for freight trains it had been decided that maximum trains should move out of Karachi ports.

He accepted that the freight trains were being stopped on the way to provide faster passage to passenger vehicles.

Earlier 10 locomotives were lifting freight from the ports, but at present only six are doing the job. But the average number of locomotives reaching upcountry is approximately two to three.

Moreover, the divisional superintendents have been assigned the task to ensure timely dispatch of trains from stations in their jurisdiction. Although no patch-up with the drivers is in sight, the management is quite optimistic and hopes that the issue would be resolved in the next two to three days.

“Our personnel are well aware that their existence and that of railway department is inter-dependent,” a senior official said.