PAKISTAN Railways is one of the key state-owned enterprises that have great financial prospects. Its performance has improved significantly compared to the last two decades. It is now gradually regaining the confidence of its passengers and handling a good amount of freight.

I travelled from Karachi to Rawalpindi via train a few months ago, and found the journey pleasant. Having said that, the passengers had to deal with an irritating problem. Because travelling by train is relatively cheap, the passengers’ journey was marred by many instances of beggars harassing them.

The beggars not only frequented the bogies too often, but also hurled abuses at anyone who gave them less than Rs10. Unless the menace of begging is dealt with sternly, such instances will continue to happen.

Pakistan Railways needs to ensure that beggars are stopped from harassing the passengers in trains, and, thus, make the journey more enjoyable for both local and international passengers, for a properly-managed railway system can play a vital role in helping create a better image of the country internationally.

Ghulam Muhammad Balti
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2021