The federal cabinet has approved Rs 11.1 billion to bail out Pakistan Railways with the same management and minister overseeing the so called turning around of this vital national asset. It reminds me of a sadist who kidnaps a person, brutally tortures him to near death and then starts the process of healing his victim only to repeat the same cycle till either the kidnapped person dies, or the kidnapper is caught. Pakistan Railways was first bled by Musharraf’s chosen minister, a retired general and his three khaki accomplices.
They procured over 60 defective locomotives from a blacklisted Chinese firm, which ended up as junk. This elected government went to the same blacklisted Chinese manufacturer and procured 75 of same defective locomotives that had already been proven to be not compatible with tracks laid down.
The problem is not with the Chinese technology, because it today is the proud manufacturer of the world’s fastest train, but those appointed by the government who chose an unknown manufacturer and than knowingly procured locomotives with specifications that did not comply with our track infrastructure in existence. Similar is the fate of PIA, Pakistan Steel, NHA, PEPCO, CAA, National Bank, PASSCO, TCP, NICL, etc which were handed over to unqualified or corrupt cronies who have driven these state assets to bankruptcy and will now be injected with fresh cash to be again busted and pilfered by the same set of cronies. In the past 30 months, PIA under the present management have accumulated losses of over Rs55 billion which is more than the total losses incurred by this airline in the preceding 20 years, while the liabilities of this state owned airline have crossed over Rs 500 billion.
The Chairman NHA, who was convicted by the Superior Judiciary only recently for a defective bridge that collapsed immediately after its completion, has been given an extension beyond age of superannuation by this government. It is the defective bridges and highways that collapsed following floods which led to more deaths by hindering life saving emergency aid.
The National Assembly PAC has failed miserably to take effective measures highlighting the plundering of these national assets. Had the Supreme Court not taken suo moto action, nothing would have happened except sabre rattling by opposition.
SYED IJAZ
Texas, USA
