LAHORE: Pakistan Railways’ (PR) authorities seem reluctant to take any action against the contractors selling substandard and expired food items at exorbitant prices in the dining cars of Karachi, Millat, Allama Iqbal and Pakistan expresses besides Khyber Mail, Tezgam and railcars.

Following a complaint lodged by an army officer, the PR vigilance directorate had inspected the dining car of Khyber Mail on January 20 and found that the bread stored there outlived its shelf life.

“One packet of bread was three months old (and) the manager of the dining car told us that this expired bread was for his staff only and we did not serve it to the passengers,” says a report by deputy director Imran Mashal sent to the director general of vigilance on January 23.

During routine checking, teams of the vigilance directorate found that “substandard and non-branded ghee was being used in the kitchen of the dining car attached with Karachi Express, substandard and non-branded cooking oil was being used and expired ketch-up was being served to the passengers of Millat Express, fake cola drinks were being sold in the Allama Iqbal Express dining car while `gutka’ and`supari’ were being sold though their sale is not allowed.”

The vigilance director-general took up the matter with the PR chief commercial manager who had on January 19 asked the divisional commercial officer of Lahore to explain his position within 15 days.

Earlier, director Tariq Latif of the Vigilance Directorate checked Tezgam (7-Up) and Rail Cars (102-Down and 103-Up) on a directive of the Lahore divisional superintendent who had received complaints by passengers regarding overcharging by the dining car contractor.

“While checking the 102-Down (Rail Car), passenger Rizwan Tajammal complained he bought one mineral water bottle of 500ml for Rs30 while a sandwich with a chicken piece and a (cup of) tea for Rs220.

Similarly, passenger Fareed Ahmad complained that while traveling on 7-Up (Tezgam), a cup of tea was served to him for Rs30,” said Mr Latif in the report sent to the director-general.

Ironically, all the contractors continue to operate the dining cars attached with Karachi, Millat, Allama Iqbal and Pakistan expresses besides Khyber Mail, Tezgam and Rail Cars.

Published in Dawn February 23rd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play