Pakistan Railways, once the backbone of national connectivity, has witnessed a sharp decline in its operations. According to railway officials, where once 244 trains crisscrossed the country, now only 104 remain active. This revelation was made during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways held at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Jam Saifullah Khan. The Secretary Railways, while briefing the committee, lamented the absence of government investment in the department over the past several years, which has led to this drastic reduction in services.
The Secretary further informed the committee that the design work for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related railway projects is complete, including the technical aspects. A new train service is being planned between Lahore and Rawalpindi with an upgraded track, and another project from Karachi to Rohri is also under consideration, pending financial backing. However, the overall financial condition of the department remains constrained due to limited allocations under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Senator Asad Qasim expressed concern over the neglect of Balochistan, pointing out that ten years ago, Quetta had ten outgoing trains; now only two remain. The Secretary responded by reiterating the department’s financial struggles and underlined that new coaches are essential for profitability. At present, only Karachi and Lahore routes are generating revenue for the railway.
The committee also discussed foreign investment opportunities. The Chairman mentioned that Austria has shown interest in the ML-1 project, a major component of CPEC. He stressed that although China remains the primary investor, international bidding will be necessary if other countries are considered. This could open avenues for broader foreign participation.
The discussion also turned toward railway land management and corruption issues. The Secretary explained that the Railways owns agricultural, commercial, and high-value government lands that cannot be sold but can be leased. In terms of law enforcement within the department, Senator Shahadat Awan demanded details on corrupt officials in the Railway Police and an update on the recruitment process. Officials reported that out of 500 constable positions, 26 remain, reserved for minorities and women, while training for 476 constables is in progress.
The Chairman concluded by directing that records related to corruption cases involving railway officials be presented in the next meeting. These records are to be obtained from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), signaling a possible crackdown on mismanagement and corruption within the institution.
