Pakistan Railways (PR) has asked the federal government for another Rs 4 billion for payments of salaries to its employees on Eid amid countrywide protests of unpaid pensioners who have not been paid for last three months, and the launch of the “Railway Bachao Rally” in Karachi.
The continued nonpayment of pensions charged the retired employees on Tuesday and they protested outside the PR headquarters and Gharhi Shahu bank in Lahore. The protesters blocked the road to all traffic and chanted slogans against the Railways administration. They said they did not even have money left for food and were starving. The general manager (Operations) of the financially embattled PR had promised payment to Railways pensioners on Monday four days ago, but failed to realise his commitment. A Railways spokesman told Pakistan Today that pension payments had been arranged and partially been paid but owing to the bank’s internal arrangements, complete payment could not be made, however, he said with confidence that on Wednesday payments to all the pensioners would be completed throughout the country.
Railways authorities said Rs 2.3 billion was required for payment of salaries and pensions, whereas, Rs 700 million was needed for fuel payments. They said if the government did not release the required funds to Railways before Eid, the payment of monthly salaries to PR employees on Eid would not be possible. They said another Rs 1 billion had been demanded for repair of tracks and payment of utility bills.
PR demands another Rs 4b
