RAILWAYS are the most important means of travel in any country. A modern and efficient railway system in Pakistan would be one that should be able to take passengers from one end of the country to the other in a little over 11 hours. Faster trains like those running in China could do it in less than nine hours. Operating an efficient railway will fetch the country benefits worth at least Rs 20 billion annually in terms of time saved by its users.

Pakistan Railways was once a flourishing enterprise. Over the years, however, mismanagement and corruption have brought this national asset to near ruin. The railways need an efficient and honest chief to turn it around and once more make it a great institution that gives revenue to the country’s economy.

The government must ensure it revitalises this important institution and provides people a cheaper and greener mode of transport.

Hadia Aziz
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020