LAHORE: Pakistan Railways (PR) will receive Rs45 billion in installments starting from next month under the public sector development programme approved in the federal budget (2024-25) passed by parliament recently.

Under the PSDP allocation of Rs45 billion, the PR wants to implement three major track upgrade projects and various other schemes, Dawn has learned.

PR Chief Executive Officer Amir Baloch told Dawn on Tuesday that the three major projects the PR is set to launch include rehabilitation of various stretches of the track falling within the territorial jurisdiction of the PR’s Karachi and Sukkur divisions (Main Line-1 / ML-1). Moreover, the rehabilitation of various stretches of ML-2 (Sher Shah/Multan to Kundian) is also set to be started. Similarly, the Jacobabad-Sibbi track stretches (ML-3) are also planned to be maintained, he added.

He said the PR management continues to focus on maintaining the rail tracks to ensure safe train operation on the railway system across the country.

Various portions of the existing ML-I, especially those falling under the jurisdiction of Karachi and Sukkur divisions, continue to require frequent repair as most accidents involving both passenger and freight trains often happen there.

The year 2019 was perhaps the worst, as the PR witnessed over 100 fatal and non-fatal accidents on various routes. The main accidents in 2019, among over 100 minor and major incidents, included the derailment of eight wagons of a freight/container train near Rahim Yar Khan (Taranda) on April 1, the derailment of a goods/container train near Padedan Station (Sindh) on May 18, the derailment of Thal Express near Kundian on May 21, the derailment of Jafar Express near Gujjar Khan on May 30, a fire incident in the running Jinnah Express dining car near Harappa (Sahiwal) on June 18, accidents involving Jinnah Express near Hyderabad on June 20, the parting of a running Pakistan Express train into two portions near Khanewal on July 11, an accident involving Akbar Express and a goods train at Walhar station on July 12, the derailment of Zakria Express and a goods train near Kotri and Rohri stations on July 23, the Tezgam train fire tragedy on October 30, an accident involving Sargodha Express and a dumper truck on December 10, and the derailment of Jinnah Express near Lahore Railway Station on December 17.

At least 73 passengers lost their lives, and over 100 were injured in the Tezgam fire incident alone. Similarly, 21 people were killed, and about 85 were injured in the Akbar Express accident.

Three drivers lost their lives in the Jinnah Express’s Hyderabad accident, and some passengers were also injured in this accident. The driver of Sargodha Express lost his life after the train hit the dumper truck. Besides the aforementioned incidents, there are also reports of deaths of some passengers in other accidents. Several minor and major accidents were also reported in 2020, 2021, 2023, and till June 30, 2024.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024