CARETAKER Minister for Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar has issued a series of directives aimed at enhancing the performance of various departments of Pakistan Railways and ensuring transparency in its working. Chairing a meeting in Lahore, he sought proposals from senior officials and heads of various departments for a viable business plan to put the PR on the right track, wanted transition of the entire railway network to an online fuel management system, action against electricity theft, repair of the tracks affected by floods and rains on a priority basis and improvement of the health sector.
Railways all over the world play an important role in economic development but performance of the PR remained lacklustre mainly because of lack of required interest on the part of the successive governments to reform and modernize its working, run it on professional lines, overstaffing and rampant corruption. Freight operations with immense potential to turn the institution profitable remained neglected, tracks were over-aged and trains cannot maintain required speed in some sections. And above all, its huge work force is thought to be not motivated enough to deliver and as a result there is deterioration in the quality of service and loss of income with persistent demands for privatization of the organization. It is a matter of shame that an institution having monopoly in the transport sector should face difficulties in timely payment of salaries and pensions. There are, of course, some issues like upgradation and improvement of the railway infrastructure which requires huge investment but the overall working and output of the organization can be improved through innovation, commitment and dedication of its management and employees. This was effectively proved by former Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and now the steps being taken by the new Minister has the potential to make a difference. The directions given by him for online management of fuel would introduce transparency and check malpractices while metering of electricity consumption in residential units would help check theft and save money. Pakistan Railway has the capability to carry out track and locomotive repair but it is not being utilized because of dereliction of duty on the part of the staff concerned and lack of vigilance on the part of the management. We hope the proposed business plan would envisage proper utilization of PR assets which can generate significant revenues.
