Sheikh Rashid out to save Pakistan Railways

1
183

Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman and former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed will stage a sit-in at the Lahore Railway Station today (Saturday) at 12pm to protest against the poor financial condition of the department and the federal government’s apathy towards the worst financial condition of its workers.
Holding a press conference at the AML Lahore Office, Rashid said that a series of sit-ins will be held at Multan, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad if the federal government did not take practical steps to recuperate the department, which had around 0.1 million employees. The AML chairman, who served as railways minister during former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s tenure and devised plans to bring railways at par with international rail carriers, said that the sit-in at the Lahore Railway Station would continue from 1 to 5 pm and AML workers and railways employees would also join the sit-in.
He said that owing to the federal government’s indifferent attitude towards railways, the department was on the verge of collapse and if prompt action was not taken, train operations would cease. Rashid alleged that the corrupt mafia ruled railways and its infrastructure was being destroyed under a conspiracy. The AML chairman said that the use of kerosene oil in railway engines resulted in faults in locomotives, while railways diesel was being stolen with connivance of black sheep in the department who were protected by corrupt officers. Rashid said that the stolen diesel was easily available in the open market and no action was taken by railway high-ups in this regard, as no one was serious about the department. He disclosed that over Rs 2 billion was embezzled under the garb of repair of faulty locomotives and no genuine repair was done, which resulted in total collapse and out of 520 locomotives fleet, only 84 locomotives were running, which could also stop anytime. The former railways minister said that kickbacks were the only hurdle in purchase of new locomotives otherwise, the process could be completed within a short span of time. Rashid said that railways high-ups were involved in serious corruption and the federal government must immediately include their names in the Exit Control List (ECL) so that they could not flee from the country whenever a fair inquiry against embezzlements was initiated. The AML chairman will also participate in the railways union’s protest, which will be taken out from the Railway Carriage Shop Mughalpura to the Lahore Press Club. Rashid will also address the protest.

1 COMMENT

  1. Mr rashid, it is easier to comment and criticize but difficult to rectify. What did you do when you were minister for railway?. Today, as a matter of fact, it is the legacy of those imprudent policies and maladministration. that has resulted this collapse. of this vital institution.

Comments are closed.