ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways has blamed the ministry of finance for the crisis being faced by Pakistan Railways, saying the problem could have been averted had the ministry released funds in time.

The committee, which met here on Monday, termed the delay in the release of funds to Pakistan Railways a criminal negligence and criticised ‘indecisiveness’ on the part of the finance minister and secretary finance which had badly affected the performance of the organisation.

Presided over by MNA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the committee was informed that non-implementation of the cabinet’s decisions to release funds for the bailout package and rehabilitation of rolling stock and withholding the sanctioned allocations by the finance ministry was a criminal act.

The committee also held the management of the Pakistan Railways responsible for causing a loss of billions by using contaminated lube oil in locomotives.  —Correspondent