Pakistan Railways suspends branch-line train operations

Despite a fresh supply of around one million litres of diesel, the Pakistan Railways has suspended all its branch-line train operations across the country, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.
Sources revealed that the Pakistan Railways was facing serious liquidity crunch as its fuel payment checks had been dishonoured many times during recent months.
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) had been trying to maintain fuel supply even in the face of bounced cheques, but Pakistan Railways had exceed its credit limit of Rs 1 billion with the state-run oil marketing company on Thursday that virtually halted all train operations.
They revealed that after the assurance payment from Pakistan Railways’ senior management, PSO had allowed the supply of around one million litres of diesel and after the fresh supply of one million litres of fuel, total outstanding was hovering around Rs 1.25 billion.
A PR official pointed out that Pakistan Railways required a minimum 300,000 litres of diesel daily to run its squeezed operation, and it required some 400,000 to 450,000 litres of fuel if it was to run on full capacity.
The Pakistan Railways had the capacity to run over 200 trains daily, but due to financial constraints it was merely operating some 80 trains and only incurring losses, he added.
The mess had created a great problem for poor passengers. No train from Lahore division could leave on time even on Friday. Almost all trains, including Khyber Mail, Awami Express, Fareed Express, Allama Iqbal Express and Taiz Gam, from Lahore divisions were delayed for long hours.