KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples’ Party MNA Dr Sharmila Farooqui called for provision of special funds to Pakistan Railways to rehabilitate its outdated locomotives and weak train tracks for safe and comfortable travelling.

“It is matter of great concern that average age of entire fleet of Pakistan Railways’ locomotives has reached 24 years, which is four years above their economic life. Number of overage engines has reached 63 percent, including 15 percent held up due to inherent design defects,” she said while referring to report about worst condition of locomotives. She said that train tracks are also in shambles, causing deadly accidents and derailments almost every month, therefore, an investment of Rs 10 to Rs 12 billion is needed to rehabilitate Pakistan Railways’ all sections. She said, “Pakistan Railways continued using 212 ageing locomotives along with 165 underage ones, which is shocking.” She called for restructuring Pakistan Railways on modern lines, adding that government should take immediate steps to turn railways into tool to achieve social integration and economic development at national, provincial and city levels.

She said that poor policies, increasing expenditures and bureaucracy hurdles had left Pakistan Railway with crippling conditions as train accidents had become frequent episode as result, people feel unsafe while travelling in trains. She said that PR was not being operated in accordance with Rules and Manuals of railways as result of which accidents are taking place frequently in which precious lives are being lost and great damage to railways is caused.