LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to resubmit its proposal to the federal government for partial resumption of passenger train service before Eid.

It has also reached a consensus that increasing train accidents and derailment incidents cannot be controlled until removal of officers found responsible in inquiries, because removing drivers and assistants is just not enough.

“We were all set to resume passenger train operation partially by running 15 up/down trains across the country under coronavirus-related precautionary measures and SOP. But, we could not do so since some provinces (Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan) were not on board in this regard despite the fact we had support of the federal government,” Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid told journalists at his weekly press conference here at the PR’s headquarters on Saturday.

“Within the next couple of days, we will again take up this issue with the federal government in a bid to get its approval for the resumption of train operations, keeping in view the growing public transport issues in the country,” he added.

He said the PR had 77,000 employees and 200,000 pensioners and there was no alternative source available to it to further pay their salaries and pensions.

Minister says Shahbaz may not be allowed to travel to UK

“We hope that we will be able to partially resume the operation before Eid,” he said.

Talking about the problem of electricity supply in the railway employees’ colonies in Lahore and other divisions, he said the PR management had held a meeting with the federal secretary (power division) recently on this subject. The outcome of the meeting was that the railway colonies would soon have electricity meters that would be provided and installed by Lesco and other power distribution companies.

Mr Rashid announced that keeping in view the reduction in high speed diesel prices, the PR had decided to cut its goods train tariff by 10pc on all routes.

While responding to various media queries, the minister said the PR was serious in efforts to control the increasing number of incidents of accidents and derailments. “But, I think that enough is enough, as now the officers would have to face the music along with the lower staff, in case of any accidents in future,” he warned.

Talking about country’s politics, the minister said that Shahbaz Sharif had stated before the NAB team that he had forgotten to bring papers related to the case in London.

“But I believe that he wouldn’t be allowed to return to the UK again,” he said, reiterating that NAB would become a ‘Tarzan’ after Eid as it would take massive action against both opposition and the ruling party leaders on various charges.

Mr Rashid said he was not seeing the Chaudhry brothers causing any problem for the government. “The Chaudhrys are our brothers. They are not going anywhere. I am also thinking to visit them soon,” he said, adding that he would not comment on the petition filed by the Chaudhrys against NAB.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2020