The protest of railway employees gained momentum on Friday as the financial troubles of the state institution continue to plague the workers, resulting in perpetually delayed salaries.
Several intercity trains from Lahore to Karachi – including the Karakoram Express, Pak Business Express, and Karachi Express – could not depart on their scheduled routes as the employees staged protests on the tracks.
Despite two rounds of negotiations with railway management, the protest of railway employees showed no signs of abating as frustration mounted. The situation escalated when passengers joined in the protest after the workers refused to leave the trains. “What are we being punished for?” a passenger complained, who was left stranded on the platform for over two hours.
According to the employees, while some have not been paid for a month, others have experienced significant delays. Moreover, some employees claim to have not received their salaries for the months of August and September.