Constructing gates at railway crossings responsibility of provincial govt: Rashid
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Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday said it was the job of the provincial government to construct gates at railway crossings.
Rashid was addressing a press conference in Lahore a day after 19 people lost their lives in an accident near Sindh's Rohri after a passenger bus tried to cross an unmanned railway crossing when a train was passing by.
In his talk today, Rashid appealed to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to release pending funds to the railways department "so that these the gates can be completed", adding that currently there were around 3,000 unmanned railway crossings between Karachi and Peshawar.
He also announced that the Karachi to Peshawar Main Railway Line (ML-1) will be decided by May 10, as a result of which all manned and unmanned railway crossings will be removed.
"All railway crossings from Karachi to Peshawar will be removed and the speed [for trains] will be limited to 160 km/h. This will come into effect on May 10, we have submitted the PC-1 for this," Rashid said.
"When the ML-1 project is completed, the entire railway track from Karachi to Peshawar will be fenced, thereby eliminating all manned and unmanned railway crossings," he said.
Meanwhile, the Sukkur deputy commissioner said on Saturday that at least six injured in the incident were in critical condition.
"Three of them have been shifted to CMH Panu Aqil while the remaining were being treated at Sukkur Civil Hospital," he said, adding that a helpline had been established at Civil Hospital to identify the deceased.
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Comments (98) Closed
Feb 29, 2020 03:26pm
Giving press statements is your responsibility
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Feb 29, 2020 03:26pm
Now this is a stupid statement, if opening/closing gates is railways responsibility, then how come installing gates is provincial government responsibility. It’s high time, this minister should be held accountability for being a representative in everything else except his scope of work.
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Feb 29, 2020 03:26pm
Who on earth will get this responsibility implemented? Do we need to import some aliens from Mars?
Please resign, as you used to insist when such incidents took place while you were off the power.
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Feb 29, 2020 03:27pm
As usual trying to shift the blame onto others.
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Feb 29, 2020 03:29pm
It was a grave negligence whoever is responsible
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Feb 29, 2020 03:33pm
But manning those gates is the responsibiltiy of railways. Shaikh rasheed should take responsibility of the incident.
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Feb 29, 2020 03:40pm
Ek se ek bhr k irresponsible banda he govt. me
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Feb 29, 2020 03:40pm
Has anyone been held accountable in pakistan ever?
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Feb 29, 2020 03:41pm
So...You are just to enjoy and issue statements ?
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Feb 29, 2020 03:41pm
Whatever he says, the safety and security of all train passengers and staff is the responsibility of the Railways, of which he is the Minister.
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Feb 29, 2020 03:42pm
Condition was same in india 4 years ago...When modi decided to build 10000 flyovers everywhere there was railway crossing. Now see how no accidents occur.
What if modi said...It was the responsibility of states?
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Feb 29, 2020 03:54pm
Tell that to the people who lost their loved ones! Try not to give imbecile statements for once
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Feb 29, 2020 03:56pm
Can some one please explain why he hasn’t resigned yet?!
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Feb 29, 2020 03:58pm
Railway minister job is to abuse others.IK was right when he said that he will not give Sheikh Rashid even the job of messenger.Hope Imran is regretting and taking action.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:04pm
The most irresponsible minister always throughs responsibilities on others.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:05pm
Minister good for nothing. Please do a favor on innocent train travelers, retire.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:08pm
Very strange, so operating it will be Provincial domain?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:09pm
Will some ask bilawal why this happened?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:13pm
Instead of playing this ping pong game better make bridges with future track expansion facilities.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:14pm
With this one, the number of accidents under our Railway Minister may be approaching a century while his post-accident press-briefings may also be catching up. He will lash out on the irresponsible behavior of the bus driver for causing the accident, curse his predecessors for their corruption and incompetency for the present dilapidated condition of Pakistan Railways, and will quickly jump to his main talent, "star-gazing". He will conclude yet another press-briefing by reiterating his undeterred resolve to lead Pakistan Railways to touch the skies. But fixing the smallest of issues like putting a gate at such crossing and a man to supervise it, nobody dare ask as that would be below his stature and above the government’s budget as public coffers have already been emptied by the previous rulers.
And, what about resignation that he and our PM were so quick to demand from the previous governments even if a fly got killed on a railway track? Resignation, what resignation?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:25pm
Then he ahould resign and go home as nothing is his responsibility and also shame on the silence of Imran Khan.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:29pm
No,no.. It is the responsibility of local villagers.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:34pm
The property across railway lines is federal property of Pakistan Railways which is a federal subject and not a provincial subject. How can a province construct crossings on federal property.? Sheikh Rashid is clearly out of line. Since his ministership at least 20 accidents with more than 250 death had happened. The concept of ministerial accountability requires that he should immediately resign if he has an iota of decency.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:37pm
This govt is a train wreck
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Feb 29, 2020 04:40pm
All politician are genetically designed to blame each other. Please Sheikh sahib it’s time to show responsibility and resign.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:40pm
Here again comes politics from worse ever railway minister of Pakistan. Who cares about the dead
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Feb 29, 2020 04:40pm
Constructing gates at railway crossings responsibility of provincial govt: Rashid...who earns the revenue ...the fed boys or the provincial government...whosoever earns pays for the gates ..
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Feb 29, 2020 04:42pm
The minister should travel on Pakistan railways and use the bathrooms and let's see who's responsibility it is. Trains are full. Where is the money going mr Rashid
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Feb 29, 2020 04:43pm
No, it is the responsibility of the railways the world over. Now resign.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:44pm
This useless person is always avoiding taking any responsibility for his actions. Why is he still in the cabinet?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:46pm
for many years there was no gate.
how many times did the esteemed minister highlighted to the provincial government that the gate is missing. we as Pakistani are best at passing the buck.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:46pm
To be a politician, one needs to be shameless and he fits the bill perfectly.
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Feb 29, 2020 04:49pm
Selling Tickets is also a responsibility of provincial govt ?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:58pm
This man is power hungry
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Feb 29, 2020 04:58pm
160 KM/hr! What?
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Feb 29, 2020 04:59pm
Operated and owned by Federal Govt, Railway is a Federal entity generating revenue for Federal Govt. How can Provincial Govt built facilities for Railways from it’s own budget ?? Keep fooling the people !!!
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Feb 29, 2020 05:02pm
Yes. Mr. Sheikh Rashid cannot do anything wrong. He is more like an angel.
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Feb 29, 2020 05:17pm
He has a big mouth and he can not focus and incompetence person. He performance, loss of life, and his high slogans are not fit. Push him out. He is not going to resign. He made railway very unsafe.
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Feb 29, 2020 05:18pm
No Dummy, it should be the responsibility of the Railways....
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Feb 29, 2020 05:20pm
Repitition of the same negligence again and again and then justifying or putting blame on this or that govt /railways. This needs tro be checked and a solution found.
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Feb 29, 2020 05:35pm
After more than 70 years of its creation Pakistan doesn't have gates on railway crossings? What a shame. Where does all that IMF money meant for infrastructure development go? This was also the promise of CPEC? What happened to infrastructure development?
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Feb 29, 2020 05:45pm
He never takes responsibility for anything, be it train fire or railroad crossing gates, worthless ineffectual minister, should be kicked out.
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Feb 29, 2020 05:49pm
he needs to resign
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Feb 29, 2020 05:54pm
Blame game and finger pointing continues while innocent who travel in good faith and hoping to arrive safe at their destination continue to die.
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Feb 29, 2020 06:06pm
If constructing railways crossing gates is the responsibility of provincial governments , will the federal government pay the fee for passing through their jurisdiction?
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Feb 29, 2020 06:09pm
Railway minister is not responsible for any of these accidents because he doesn’t drive the train .
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Feb 29, 2020 06:14pm
It's ashamed under his ministership as Railway minister so many people have died but he never takes the responsibility or resign.
Imran Khan needs to get rid of him.
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Feb 29, 2020 06:21pm
PTI and this govt can do only one thing " Put the blame of every mishap or incompetence on others"..
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Feb 29, 2020 06:24pm
And your responsibility is to submit your resignation to the PM
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Feb 29, 2020 06:26pm
Sometimes I get amazed that This Government is Only made For Blaming each incident to Others....
Instead of blaming. Just Sort out the Things...
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Feb 29, 2020 06:32pm
Master blaster for shifting blame. This dude is an icon of incompetance.
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Feb 29, 2020 06:33pm
He is more of a political astrologer and less of a railway minister.
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Feb 29, 2020 06:33pm
Did he show any compassion at all for the innocent lives lost, or was the press conference just to point the finger elsewhere?
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Feb 29, 2020 06:39pm
Enough is enough. Shaikh Rashid go home. No further explanation needed.
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Feb 29, 2020 06:41pm
What is your responsibility
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Feb 29, 2020 06:58pm
And your job sheikh rashid is to blame others and talk about when india and pakistan are going for war and how many nuclear bombs pakistan has.Both India and Pakistan need to get rid of these war mongerers from both sides.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:20pm
Blame game starts
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Feb 29, 2020 07:26pm
We need a new railway minister....when the land where gates are needed is owned by railways, why it is the responsibility of local government ?....useless and incompetent dude is railway minister...sad and unfortunate....
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Feb 29, 2020 07:26pm
It can only happen in pak where railways minister says that constructing gates at railway crossing is not his responsibility! Then who's is?
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Feb 29, 2020 07:28pm
What a insane person? Face of the Government
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Feb 29, 2020 07:28pm
Shameless minister.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:28pm
Is the rules different for Indian & Pakistan Railways which both were part of British Railways?? In India Railways, Gate is constructed & manned by Railways. In case of Railway overbridge, the part on TOP of rail lines is Railway responsibility & the approach road, State responsibility.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:30pm
Sheikh Rashid is a genius
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Feb 29, 2020 07:30pm
And running railways is responsibility of judiciary?
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Feb 29, 2020 07:34pm
Construction, repair and manning railway gates, should be Railway,s responsibility. As usual Pakistani leadership pointing fingers at others.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:42pm
Clearly he has lost his mind.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:47pm
This incompetent ignorant must be dismissed from the Ministry. We have had enough of him. Shame on PTI and IK for tolerating him this long
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Feb 29, 2020 07:52pm
Good. Not my fault. Let us move on.
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Feb 29, 2020 07:59pm
Imran Khan should do to Sheikh Rashid the same as he would have asked to do had Sheikh Rashid been working for Nawaz Sharif.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:00pm
A railway minster telling, its not his responsibility, what a shame!
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Feb 29, 2020 08:11pm
Please give us more excuses why you cannot do your job, but give us running commentary on every other politician and topic. Why is this colorful man relevant, it remains a mystery.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:16pm
It is the responsibility of govt, save lives; do not politic.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:28pm
Such a Smart Talented Unique Person In Divinity
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Feb 29, 2020 08:30pm
Railways own by the Federal Railway Ministry and gates to be built by the Provinces. It does not make any sense.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:30pm
Mr. Sheikh Rasheed is right.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:35pm
Railway minister is not even good at shifting blame.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:36pm
Blame it on. Why is he not fired yet
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Feb 29, 2020 08:54pm
Railway minster the most incompetent, corrupt and opportunist need to be immediately sacked, and put behind bars. How long people have to suffer and this is what MR. Khan naya Pakistan is all about.
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Feb 29, 2020 08:56pm
For God sake be practical. How can you start running trains at 160 KmPH when over 3,000 railway crossing roads are unmanned-ungated?
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Feb 29, 2020 08:58pm
Sad incident with history of accidents at Level Crossings is handled by technology today. Pakistan Railway should know essentially how to address this by technology. The technology works on Un-Manned principal and used worldwide.
Honorable Railway Chairman/Secretary PR Mr. Shakil Durrani had a vision on this. Today it is sad we have lost further precious lives. Would any one trust to travel or send his family to travel by train under this situation.
I seek an audience with honorable Minister Shaikh Rashid and Honorable Chairperson Pakistan Railway to identify possible remedy to eliminate this chapter with safe travel free from accidents. May God Bless.
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Feb 29, 2020 09:14pm
He is always good at finding scapegoats!
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Feb 29, 2020 09:21pm
Yes it is duty of local agencies but you are the supervision and enforcer of regulations. Don't try to pass the buck to others, you are more responsible then anyone else.
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Feb 29, 2020 09:46pm
Railway Minister is the face of this IK's dysfunctional Government.
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Feb 29, 2020 09:56pm
@Gaurav kumar, 10000 flyovers in 4 years! Very good if that’s really true!
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Feb 29, 2020 11:53pm
Must resign now please??
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Feb 29, 2020 11:55pm
Next statement would be: "I am running the railway dept, but I have no responsibility."
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Mar 01, 2020 12:36am
Sheikh sahib it was passenger's mistakes to trust railway.....
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Mar 01, 2020 12:51am
why is he still at this post?
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Mar 01, 2020 12:59am
Both passenger and freight revenues doubled during the previous minister's tenure. He is presently in custody.Like some of the others, neither indicted, tried or convicted. The present minister wastes no opportunity to criticize the previous government but not enough being done to improve the current situation on the tracks.
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Mar 01, 2020 02:02am
@MalikOnlyOne, They can’t construct on federal land but in Karachi circular railways case they manage to sell good chunk of land with the approval of Sind govt departments
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Mar 01, 2020 02:52am
How can the minister make a wrong statement like that. gates at crossings have been there for ever. Is it not known, who built them - Railways or provincial government?
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Mar 01, 2020 03:15am
you don't have any responsibility except giving statement, I request supreme court to held him responsible for fire in train
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Mar 01, 2020 04:07am
Notwithstanding the poor infrastructure, alot of responsibility also lies with the idiotic driver who decided to cross the tracks without looking.
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Mar 01, 2020 05:04am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, No body can the take the responsibility of unruly and irresponsible vehicle drivers.
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Mar 01, 2020 06:43am
Rail Road has right-of-way. It is the responsibility of Rail Road to protect the Right -of-Way. A professional should run the Ministry(DEPT. oF R/R).
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Mar 01, 2020 07:33am
ML 1 is a CPEC project so trains can even run at 250 kms. plus using Chinese bullet trains and track.
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Mar 01, 2020 07:33am
New track will remove all manned and unmanned railway crossings and it will be completely fenced off. Where is the provision for crossing the railway tracks?
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Mar 01, 2020 10:32am
@Dr. Saba Qureshi , You presume that he has a mind to lose.
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