LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has launched an inquiry against a senior official for showing negligence in getting operations of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) freight train resumed in March.

On the other hand, the PR also seems unable to coordinate with the quarters concerned, including the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) secretariat, and resolve issues on its part and get the train operational.

“The PR has launched an inquiry against its former director (commercial), Syed Hasan Tahir Bukhari, over negligence that possibly led to missing of the tentative operation deadline in March. Although the officer was suspended from service, the department couldn’t initiate proceedings against him. The inquiry is being led by a senior official,” a source in the department told Dawn on Tuesday.

After nine years, the ITI train was scheduled to resume operations on March 4 from Turkey to connect freight trade among the three countries. Since the train had to reach Pakistan on March 16, the railways had planned to launch its operations from Islamabad dry port on March 19.

However, it emerged that mishandling, negligence and other administrative issues allegedly on the part of the railways ministry had delayed the resumption of the train, forcing Turkey and Iran to cancel hundreds of tonnes of goods booked for Pakistan.

The Pakistan authorities also suspended the services of Pakistan Railways Freight and Transportation Company Director (Commercial) Mr Bukhari on charges of inefficiency and misconduct to pacify the two countries involved.

The ECO secretariat continued holding meetings with officials of the three countries on resumption of the train, but the issues related to rationalising freight charges, track repair, appointment of freight forwarding agents by Pakistan, and US sanctions on Iran could not be resolved.

“Since May, no meeting has taken place by the ECO secretariat, reflecting lack of interest by the Pakistan Railways in resuming the train operations,” the official maintained. He said the inquiry officer has also sent a questionnaire to Bukhari.

In the last meeting in May, Turkey had announced tariffs for the route originating and passing through its territory. However, the schedule for resumption of the train couldn’t be finalised.

PR Chairman Dr Habibur Rehman Gilani claimed there was no issue on the part of Pakistan.

“We are ready to negotiate, once again, on the tariff with our brotherly countries,” he told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2021