SINCE the takeover of the Pakistan Railways by the new railway minister, Saad Rafique, conditions seem to have improved quite a lot. I would like to suggest a few points.

1.) Possibilities of starting a railway service between Peshawar and Hayatabad via University Town should be looked into. Although some parts of the railway tracks have been uprooted and stolen, the track can still be recovered. Engines and carriages can also be recovered at the Locomotive factory, Risalpur, and carriage factory, Islamabad, respectively.

2.) Six factories of Pakistan Railways, namely Locomotive factory, Risalpur; carriage factory, Islamabad; and four concrete sleeper factories in Kohat, Khanewal, Sukkur and Kotri should be privatised immediately and handed over to a dynamic entrepreneur in the private sector.

If somebody really manages them in accordance with the modern management principles, these entities would act like goldmines for him.

3.) We’ve discarded all of the old steam engines altogether. These engines must have been parked at various locations of different railway stations of the country and occupying space unnecessarily. Good management implies that either these engines should be operational or, if they’re unserviceable, they should be in the workshop.

I would urge the Railway department to find out the possibilities of recovering as many of these engines as possible through cannibalisation. After recovery, they can be plied on various less important auxiliary routes of the country. Even, their parts’ manufacturing facilities could be revived. Special handsome bonuses should be given to those who recover these engines.

Air Cdre (r) Azfar A Khan
Rawalpindi