Ministry of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique plans on deploying gatekeepers at 1,875 unmanned railway crossings across the country to prevent accidents and ensure safety of passengers and general public.

The planned deployment of personnel would be carried out with the assistance of provincial governments, an official in the ministry told APP.

“Pakistan Railways has asked the rest of the provinces to join hands with the railways to protect precious lives,” the official said. "The minister for railways has already written letters to chief executives of all provinces to release funds for the conversion of unmanned level crossings into manned level crossings."

"Per Railway Act 1890, the responsibility for the upgrading of unmanned level crossing lies with the concerned provincial governments and road authorities, for whom the ministry of railways would provide all possible technical assistance," he added.

The official further said that the Punjab government has already released Rs610 million, helping Pakistan Railways upgrade 75 level crossings, with a further release of Rs 1400 million expected during the current fiscal year for 150 more unmanned level crossings.

“More than a 100 people including school children, women and men have lost their lives and 160 sustained injuries in around 800 accidents at manned and unmanned level crossings all over the country during last five years,” the official said.