Trains behind schedule

Published April 15, 2007

LAHORE, April 14: Major trains continued to arrive late at the Lahore railway station on Saturday owing to what the Pakistan Railway officials called ‘adoption of going by the book policy’ by the signals’ staff.

The Karakorum Express was late by four hours, the Allama Iqbal Express by three hours and 45 minutes, the Karachi Express by three hours, Tezgam by two hours and 45 minutes.

The signals’ staff of the Pakistan Railways had decided on Thursday to adopt ‘work to rule policy’ in response to what they termed the uncalled for implication of their colleagues in cases under 16-MPO who were demanding their constitutional rights.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Pakistan Railways Signal Staff Welfare Association at a meeting participated in by their representatives from all the seven operational divisions of the organisation. The meeting decided that all the signals’ staff would strictly adhere to the rules given in the operational manual of the railway. They decided to work eight hours a day instead of remaining on duty round-the-clock because of staff shortage.