RAWALPINDI, May 24: Lack of funds and mismanagement are the causes of Pakistan Railways crisis which can be overcome through proper planning so that the people may be provided better and secure train service.    This was stated by Pakistan Railways General Manager (Operation) Junaid Qureshi on Thursday during his visit to Rawalpindi Railway Station. He also chaired a meeting of the divisional officers and other railway staff. Divisional Superintendent Syed Munawar Shah was also present on the occasion.

The general manager directed the divisional superintendent to contact the local traders, businessmen and industrialists for the revival of freight services from Rawalpindi to Lahore and Karachi to generate funds for the organisation at local level.

He also urged the railway officials to recover the outstanding amount of Rs233 million from the local oil companies, food department and other private organisations which were using railway land along the tracks in Rawalpindi division.

Mr. Qureshi gave the deadline of June 30 to the management to end the leakages like ticket-less journey at the divisional level as more than 20 per cent people still traveled through trains without tickets.

He directed the police to improve the security in and around the railway stations and in the trains to provide secure journey to the people. “Pakistan Railways will provide all the equipment to the railway police for the protection of passengers at railway stations and in the trains,” he said.

He said that the Pakistan Railways procured the spare parts of locomotives that would be provided to Central Diesel Locomotive (CDL) workshop next month to repair 20 locomotives for the passenger trains.

For the improvement of services at railway stations, he said that the rate list of food items should be displayed at every stall at the platforms. He said that the food inspectors and railway medical officers would examine the quality of food items at railway stations and in the trains and send him weekly report.

Taking notice of poor condition of toilets in the trains, he directed the sanitary staff to clean the washrooms of trains at every junction and ensure the supply of water there.

He appreciated the CDL workshop workers and divisional officials for repairing 58 locomotives during last six months and said that they set an example for the other workshops in the country to follow.

He asked the railway officers to motivate the workers and appreciate their hard work and facilitate as the organisation would not perform well without the workers’ contributions. He said that the railway would give cash awards and certificates to those employees who worked hard at workshops and offices.