LAHORE: The inspections of railway tracks, rolling stock and other infrastructures have been launched across the country in a bid to identify faults and rectify them with immediate effect.

The inspections have been launched across all divisions of Pakistan Railways (PR) including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Multan, Sukkar, Karachi and Quetta in a bid to ensure safe train operations by averting any derailment or accident, Dawn has learnt.

“The divisional engineers, under the supervision of divisional superintendents (DSs) in all divisions of the PR, have started inspections from Peshawar to Karachi and Quetta and local / branch lines. The inspections of the rolling stock, especially the passenger coaches and goods’ wagons, interlocking / signaling system, passenger-related services at railway stations and the moving trains have also been started by respective officers,” a senior official explained while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.

“The process has been initiated after the federal minister directed officers to ensure timely maintenance by all means failing which they would be taken to task,” the official added.

According to him, the inspections-cum-maintenance drive had been launched with a special focus on the railway tracks, dummy coaches and wagons (the rolling stocks / coaches having inadequate brakes or faulty ones included in the trains’ rakes) and refresher training of crew, especially drivers and assistant drivers.

“The major reasons behind the derailments / accidents identified in most cases include decaying track, dummy coaches and wagons, lack of maintenance and human error,” he maintained.

When contacted, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi confirmed the development, stating that he would not tolerate any negligence on the part of anyone in the PR.

“I have warned the all senior officials concerned to complete maintenance by Dec 31 and continue the same onwards according to their job descriptions,” he explained while talking to Dawn.

“I have told them categorically that no dummy coach / wagon should be the part of the trains’ rake, as the entire rolling stock must be fit 100pc,” he said, adding that the officers must perform their duty well for safe train operations across the country.

“I have also asked the DSs to carry out regular inspections of their yards, tracks and other infrastructure,” the minister added.

Since July, nearly 20 train accidents and derailments have been reported across the country.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2026