Pakistan Railways: The most corrupt ministry?

The latest hearing:

Supreme Court (SC) summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed in a deficit case, and said, “Railways is the most corrupt institution in Pakistan.” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed headed the three-member bench, and said that nothing in the institution is functioning properly. Expressing annoyance at the performance, the court remarked that “a person should first travel by train before taking over the ministry.” The CJP said that the records are not computerized, adding that every passenger travelling by train is in danger.

Railways performance under Sheikh Rasheed:

After the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) came into power, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s close aide Sheikh Rasheed took over the Ministry of Railways. The Railways Minsitry failed to satisfy the people. Despite an increase in fares of trains, the deficit was increasing and accidents were becoming a routine. Sheikh Rasheed in the first three months inaugurated 34 new trains and the numbers of accidents still increased. During the past one year about 100 accidents of trains have been witnessed in which many people were killed. According to the statistics, the overall railways deficit has increased by Rs 27 to 32 billion, which has been increasing for the last 25 years. 

Increasing accidents of Pakistan Railways:

Railway accidents are a matter of concern for the Railways Department, and people have become afraid when it comes to traveling in the Pakistani trains. Last year, a catastrophic incident occurred in Pakistan Railways when 74 passengers were killed due to fire in a train near Rahim Yar Khan. The locals retrieved the bodies and the injured people by themselves. There was a clear evidence of internal mismanagement. Sheikh Rasheed blamed the passengers who were carrying cylinders and gas stoves. The second major accident occurred with Akbar Express, in which 21 people were killed and about 100 people were injured.

Reasons for poor Railway Performance:

Since 1861 when the first railway line was laid down between Karachi and Kotri, the expansion of the railway network by the British came at a rapid pace up until 1947. However, after 1947, instead of maintaining and building this network only numbers of trains were increased. Over the years, lack of attention, poor policies, increasing expenditures, corruption, and misappropriation of funds are the major reasons for the poor performance. The problem of bogies, railway signal system and manpower is also a major concern of Pakistan Railways. The railway system in Pakistan is very extensive but too old enough. The kind of maintenance it needs has not been done until now.

What Next?

Due to the increasing accidents and deficit of Pakistan Railways, political circles and the people are demanding the resignation of Sheikh Rasheed. But will Sheikh Rahseed’s resignation will be beneficial for the Railway Department?