THIS refers to news report ‘FWO given contract for building underpasses, bridges for KCR, SC told’ (Dec 12), which questioned the performance of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) by citing the delay in the completion of Lodhran-Khanewal railway track dualisation.

I have been working with Pakistan Railways as a civil engineer for a long time. I can argue with authenticity that FWO completed all railway projects not only within the given timeframe, but also met all construction standards against all odds as required by the client.

I can recall several projects of railways, including the construction of a bridge on Kotri-Landhi section (Ranpethani on main line one due to which main traffic to Karachi was halted; the bridge was completed in two weeks), the construction of damaged bridge on Wazirabad-Shorkot section, Yousafwala bridge over Lower Bari Doab canal, track embankment and structures for Qadirabad power plant and many other projects of doubling of tracks on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

It is vital to understand that inadvertent delays have been on the part of Pakistan Railways as the track or bridge construction was to be done without stopping the railway traffic.

At a time when Pakistan Railways is going to construct historical tracks, all aspects should be taken into account before passing any comment. The fact is that the nation needs organisations like FWO more than ever before to meet its demands.

Abdullah Ahmad
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2020