THIS is with reference to the report ‘Five killed, dozens injured as train derails near Multan’ (Oct 14). The tragic derailment of the Rehman Baba Express near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan is a painful reminder of the decaying state of Pakistan Railways. When the British left the subcontinent, they bequeathed three highly effective systems: the canal network, postal arrangements and the railway network. Over the decades, we have neglected all three. While the authorities often cite sabotage or miscreants following major accidents, a look at physical realities on the ground tells a very different story. The foundation of any railway network happens to be its tracks and the wooden and iron sleepers beneath them.
Over time, these sleepers lose structural integrity and fail to bear the immense load of modern trains. As high-speed loco-motives pass over weakened sleepers, the bolts and fishplates connecting the rails loosen, creating critical alignment gaps that directly trigger derailments.
The recent derailment is far from an isolated tragedy. Just last year, six coaches of the Awam Express had derailed near Lodhran, and nine wagons of a freight train had derailed near Padidan, disrupting critical goods transport across the country.
Official data reveals hundreds of similar incidents occurring regularly — ranging from derailments to collisions at unmanned level crossings. The core causes remain systemic: decades of underinvestment, decaying track infrastructure, worn-out hardware, and reliance on outdated manual signalling systems. Patchwork repairs and temporary fixes are no longer sufficient.
To prevent further loss of innocent lives and restore a reliable transport backbone, Pakistan must modernise its main artery: the Karachi-to-Peshawar line (Main Line-1). The government should explore outsourcing the complete reconstruction and overhaul of this track to international experts with proven engineering cap- abilities. Rebuilding our railway system with durable, modern standards is not just a commercial priority; it is a vital public safety imperative that cannot be ignored.
Lt-Col(retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt
Karachi
Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026
