LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has suffered a loss of over Rs1.1 million during the last nine days as its commercial wing authorities put the directive of the PR Board chairman on the backburner.

A luggage van was detached from Business Express on Dec 17 though the company operating the train paid freight charges and fine imposed on account of overloading of cargo in vans.

“Since Dec 17, the company has stopped paying Rs129,730 to the PR which it was depositing daily,” a source told Dawn on Wednesday.

The PR chief commercial manager (CCM) had directed M/s Four Brothers International through a letter (No 6-DC/211/1/2012 5, dated Dec 9, 2013) to deposit a sum of Rs504,660 as freight charges, fine and cost of damage imposed at six times during the period from May 25, 2012, to Sept 27, 2013.

Through another letter (No 6-DC/211/1/2012 5, dated Dec 14, 2013) the CCM ordered detachment of the luggage van from Business Express with effect from Dec 17, when the company had deposited the required amount with railway cash office (receipt No 259688).

The company requested the railway authorities to attach the luggage van the same day, but in vain. The company brought the matter into the knowledge of the PR Board chairman who sent a letter (No C-1/2011/PVT-5, dated Dec 20, 2013) to the railway headquarters in Lahore, saying: “Please advise Pakistan Railways Headquarters office to attach the luggage van at once. We are losing money on this.”

However, the Business Express left the Lahore station without the luggage van on Wednesday, after which the company stopped making daily payments to the railway.