Locomotive drivers of Pakistan Railways ended their countrywide strike on Thursday after assurance of Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour that their problems would be resolved with approval of the Finance Ministry.
Talking to journalists, Bilour said that railways was facing a financial crunch and problems would be resolved with the passage of time. The minister said that the matter of service extension of the general manager operations would be settled within a day. Earlier, the Rail Mazdoor Ittehad, an alliance of PR workers’ associations, held a strike camp in front of loco shed workshop and demanded the administration to desist from forcing drivers to operate locomotives. The participants said that for the last two years, the railways administration was making promises but did not take practical steps to meet demands of railways.
The workers demanded immediate upgrading of pay-scales, upward revision of pay-scales by 55 percent in wake of inflation, revival of travel and dearness allowances and payment of overtime. They demanded installation of gates on unmanned railway crossings, posting of staff on such crossings, improvement in the signals system and timely maintenance of locomotives, coaches. Association president Salim Raza said that the administration had also not fulfilled its promise to give Rs 1.5 million compensation to heirs of drivers in case of any fatal accident.
