WAQAR MEMON MC/153 Article extended

Edited 
Editor: Kashaf Banbhan(49)
Waqar Memon - 153

Downfall Of Pakistan Railway

Railway is considered most cheapest and comfortable mean for travelling. It has been the only mean of transport for travelling city to city. Pakistan has a full-fledged ministry, known as as Pakistan Railway Ministry, with Shaikh Rasheed as its minister.
Other than private roadside transports there are some other causes of failures of Pakistan Railways is not only the cheapest mode of travel but this public state enterprise is also the largest civilian employer in the country. However, over the years, lack of attention poor policies, increasing expenditures, misappropriation of funds, pilferage and nepotism and most recently, the floods have left the railways with huge shortfalls running in billions of rupees.
Pakistan Railway was part of great railway network laid by British government in colonial India. After Independence it was renamed as Pakistan Western Railway (1947-74). After independence of Bangladesh it was named as Pakistan Railways. In 1858 Sir Henry Edward Frere the then Commissioner of Sindh, sought permission from Lord Dalhousie to begin a survey for a Karachi seaport and a railway line. On May 13th, 1861 the first railway line was opened for the public, between Karachi and Kotri, with a total distance of 105 miles (169 km). Pakistan Railways at the time of independence, 1,947 route miles (3,133 km) of North Western Railways were transferred to India, leaving 5,048 route miles (8,122 km) to Pakistan.
 Pakistan Railway is a state-owned rail transport service with its, headquartered in Lahore and administered by the federal government. Pakistan Railway provides an important mode of transportation throughout Pakistan. It plays an important role in bringing the far flung areas of the country closer for the purpose of business, pilgrimage, education, jobs, sightseeing, and many other important services.
Pakistan Railway experiencing huge financial losses since years, according to AF Ferguson & Co railways losses were estimated Rs.30 billion in 2012-13. It was running into losses instead of making revenues. Reports revealed that Pakistan railways sustained losses  during financial years 2013-14 Rs.32 billion, Rs.27 billion in 2014-15, Rs.26 billion in 2015-16 and in 2016-17 Rs.40 billion.
“The organization, it is imperative, be run with proper planning and in a proficient manner,” the report said adding that “the present situation of the railways is the result of poor planning for last 70 years”.
Total revenue from 2012 to 2017 was Rs.147 billion and loss was Rs.155 billion. Constant fall in earnings of the Pakistan Railways has been the prime reason for the continuous loss it is suffering.
Pakistan Railway had very good track infrastructure at that time that was built by Britain. Pakistan Railway was running very successfully getting a lot of money for the economy, employing more than 80000 people with more than 80 million passengers a year. Railway also started electric powered trains in some regions.
Over the years, lack of attention, poor policies, nepotism and misappropriation of funds have left the railways with deficits running in billions of rupees. The industrial units of railways are running at loss. The locomotive factory, sleeper factories and the carriage factory as well as the other large manufacturing units of railways needs to be converted into autonomous corporations. The political interference, nepotism, corruption, poor maintenance of tracks & bridges and mismanagement in almost every field are the major causes of failure of Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways purchased 69 completely built locomotive units from China under 2003 agreement. These are about 37% cheaper than the European locomotives but considered to be faulty. It is stated that 32 of these have already been scrapped. Dong Fang Electric Corporation has been severely criticized for producing low quality locomotives.
There are various reasons for the downfall of Pakistan Railway, like Consumer Dissatisfaction, Corruption and Mismanagement, Crowded Platforms, Less investment and providing late budget, Fuel shortage, Disasters (floods, storms and riots) Nature has not been too kind to Pakistan Railways either. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the floods have caused a loss of Rs.6.7 billion to the railway network as several hundred kilometers of lines were washed away. But corruption is the major problem of the system and it’s leading the way to the losses of the governments and state owned corps, and most of the complaints are about extremely low quality of services. Normally trains are too late and passengers can be seen sitting at platforms with their luggage. A number of trains lack facility of light at nights because of the failure of the generators and ill attitude of management authority. There are complaints that reservation is confirmed after receiving bribe of hundred or more rupees from passengers. Pakistan Railways is no more the best choice to travel for the passengers.
After 1973 Pakistan Railways budget was merged with the national budget with the result that the profit they earned was diverted to other heads, leaving less and less for its maintenance, expansion and improvement. On the other hand, the government spent three times more on road sector. It was this combination of neglect to railways and preference to roads, which is the root cause of the present malady of Pakistan Railways. Ministry of Railways, which is responsible for providing funds for the maintenance and development of the provision of the railway network has no long-term framework for capital support to perform these roles.
Pakistan Railways has been playing a very vital role in social, economic and political development of Pakistan. Employing more than 80,000 persons, employment indirectly to at least ten times more contributes substantially to the GDP of the country, with more than 80 million passengers every year. Being the cheapest mode of transportation of goods and commuting passengers, it has been the hinge of Pakistan’s development and now it’s being replaced with private roadside transports like CNG buses, Daewoo Express, Kohistan, Khan Brothers, Niazi Express, AKC Express and some other private transport companies.
Like other developing countries Pakistan should realize the importance of technologies and internet and use their tracks on several online maps and travel help guide services to enhance the user experience and let the public select the train by checking the expected time on traveling, using maps like Google Maps this will easily give access to the public to not face their employees bad attitudes. Another attempt could help Pakistan railway to rise and shine again and help the economy is to privatize railways. This will stop the corruption and nepotism and it will eventually raise the customers’ satisfaction. The PTCL is the best example of privatizing a company, today it is not only a profitable organization but also providing excellent services to the customers. Corruption in Pakistan Railways can only be removed by privatization of Pakistan Railways so Proper check and balance will be observed and corruption will be controlled.

There are some other ways to raise the Pakistan Railways again on tracks with better response of citizen like New engines for safe and faster travels, Double track system and Timing & Scheduling to ensure the timely arrivals and double up the transport measures, Separation of production and operation, Security system should be improved so everyone could travel without any loss of their goods.

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For Magazine Extended
Article by Waqar Memon
Downfall of Pakistan Railway
Travelling or we can say tourism is one of the most important departments of any state and railway system is one of the most important transports while travelling city to city. Pakistan also owns one as Pakistan Railway Ministry, which controls Pakistan’s Railway system. Shaikh Rasheed is current Railway Minister from Pakistan’s National Assembly.


Pakistan railway was founded in 1947 after the independence. Pakistan Railway was also known as Pakistan Western Railway (1947-74) before Pakistan’s independence in 1858Sir Henry Edward Frere, appointed as the commissioner of Sind, sought permission from lord Dalhousie to begin a survey for a Karachi seaport and a railway line. On May 13th, 1861 the first railway line was opened to the public, between Karachi and Kotri, with a total distance of 105 miles (169 km). Pakistan Railways at the time of independence, 1,947 route miles (3,133 km) of north western railways were transferred to India, leaving 5,048 route miles (8,122 km) to Pakistan.
Pakistan Railway is a national state-owned rail transport service of Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore and administered by the federal government under the Ministry of Railways. Pakistan Railway provides an important mode of transportation throughout Pakistan. It plays an important role in bringing the farthermost corners of the country closer for the purpose ofsightseeing, business, pilgrimage,education and many other important service.
Pakistan Railway is on the way through the loss since years, according toAF Ferguson & Co railways losses were RS30 billion in 2012-13, Pakistan railways was going Into losses instead of making revenues, reports revealed that during financial years 2013-14 Rs32 Billion, Rs27 billion in 2014-15, Rs26 Billion in 2015-16 and in 2016-17 Rs40 billion were the losses Pakistan railways faced.
“The organization, it is imperative, be run with proper planning and in a proficient manner,” the report said adding that “the present situation of the railways is the result of poor planning for last 70 years”.
Total revenue from 2012 to 2017 was Rs147 Billion and loss was Rs155 Billion.Constant fall in earnings of the Pakistan Railways has been the prime reason for the continuous losses it is suffering.
Pakistan Railway had very good track infrastructure at that time that was built by Britain. Pakistan railway was running very successfully getting a lot of money for the economy, Employing more than 80000 persons, with more than 80 Million passengers a year, railway also started electric powered trains for some regions.
Over the years, lack of attention, poor policies, nepotism and misappropriation of funds have left the railways with deficits running in billions of rupees. The industrial units of railways are running at loss. The locomotive factory, sleeper factories and the carriage factory as well as the other large manufacturing units of railways needs to be converted in to autonomous corporationsthe political interference, nepotism, corruption, poor maintenance of tracks & bridges and mismanagement in almost every field are the major causes of failure of Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways purchased 69 completely built locomotive units from China under 2003 agreement. These are about 37% cheaper than the European locomotives but considered to be faulty. It is stated that 32 of these have already been scrapped. Dong Fang Electric Corporation has been severely criticized for producing low quality locomotives.

There are various reasons of the downfall of the Pakistan Railway, like Consumer Dissatisfaction, Corruption and Mismanagement, Crowded Platforms, Less investment and providing late budget, Fuel shortage, Disasters (floods, storms and riots) Nature has not been too kind to Pakistan Railways either. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the floods have caused a loss of Rs.6.7 billion to the railway network as several hundred kilometers of lines were washed away.But corruption is the major problem of the system and it’s leading the way to the losses of the governments and state owned corps, and most of the complaints are about extremely low quality of services. Naturally trains are too late and passengers can be seen sitting at platforms with their luggage. A number of trains lack facility of light at nights because of the failure of the generators and ill attitude of management. There are complaints that reservation is confirmed after receiving bribe of hundred or more rupees by passengers.Pakistan Railways is no more the best choice to travel for the passengers.
After 1973 Pakistan Railways' budget was merged with the national budget with the result that the profit they earned was diverted to other heads, leaving less and less for its maintenance, expansion and improvement. On the other hand, the Government spent three times more on road sector. It was this combination of neglect to railways and preference to roads, which is the root cause of the present malady of Pakistan Railways. Ministry of Railways, which is responsible for providing funds for the maintenance and development of the provision of the railway network has no long-term framework for capital support to perform these roles.
Pakistan Railways has been playing a very vital role in social, economic and political development of Pakistan. Employing more than 80,000 persons, Employment indirectly to at least ten times more contributes substantially to the GDP of the country. With more than 80 million passengers every year. Being the cheapest mode of transportation of goods and commuting passengers, it has been the hinge of Pakistan’s development and now it’s being replaced with private roadside transports like CNG buses, Daewoo Express, Kohistan, Khan Brothers, Niazi Express, AKC Express and some other private transport companies.
Other than private roadside transports there are some other causes of Failures of Pakistan Railways Pakistan railways is not still not only the cheapest mode of travel. But this public state enterprise is also the largest civil employer in the country. However, over the years, lack of attention poor policies, increasing expenditures, misappropriation of funds, pilferage and nepotism and most recently, the floods have left the railways with huge shortfalls running in billions of rupees and.
Like other developing countries Pakistan government should realize the importance of technologies and internet and use their tracks on several online maps and travel help guide services to enhance the user experience and let the public select the train by checking the expected time on traveling, using maps like Google Maps this will easily give access to the public to not to face their employees bad attitudes. Another attempt could help Pakistan railway to rise and shine again and help the economy is to privatize railways this will stop the corruption and nepotism and it will eventually raise the customers satisfaction the PTCL is the best example of privatizing a company today it is not only a profitable organization but also providing excellent services to the customers. Corruption in Pakistan Railways can only be removed by privatization of Pakistan Railways so Proper check and balance will be observed and corruption will be controlled.

There are some other ways to raise the Pakistan Railways again on tracks with better response of citizen like New engines for safe and faster travels, Double track system and Timing & Scheduling to ensure the timely arrivals and double up the transport measures, Separation of production and operation, Security system should be improved so everyone could travel without any loss of their goods.
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< Waqar Memon Media &Communication studies Department>


WAQAR MEMON
2K17/MC/153
BS- III
Downfall of Pakistan Railway.
Travelling or we can say tourism is one of the most important departments of any state and railway system is one of the most important transports while travelling city to city. Pakistan also owns one as Pakistan Railway Ministry, which controls Pakistan’s Railway system. Shaikh Rasheed is the Railway Minister from Pakistan’s national Assembly.
Pakistan railway is the national, state owned railway company of Pakistan; Pakistan railway was founded in 1947 after the independence. Pakistan Railway was also known as Pakistan Western Railway (1947-74). As it is important source of transportation throughout Pakistan therefore it’s the state owned railway, Pakistan railway plays an important role of transportation throughout Pakistan, Pakistan railway is a federal government department under Ministry of Railways, recently Pakistan railways is in crisis.
Pakistan railway is on the way through the loss since years, according to AF Ferguson & Co railways losses were RS30 billion in 2012-13, Pakistan railways was going Into losses instead of making revenues, reports revealed that during financial years 2013-14 Rs32 Billion, Rs27 billion in 2014-15, Rs26 Billion in 2015-16 and in 2016-17 Rs40 billion were the losses Pakistan railways faced.
“The organization, it is imperative, be run with proper planning and in a proficient manner,” the report said adding that “the present situation of the railways is the result of poor planning for last 70 years”.
Total revenue from 2012 to 2017 was Rs147 Billion and loss was Rs155 Billion.
Pakistan railway had very good track infrastructure at that time that was built by Britain. Pakistan railway was running very successfully getting a lot of money for the economy, Employing more than 80000 persons, with more than 80 Million passengers a year, railway also started electric powered trains for some regions.
Over the years, lack of attention, poor policies, nepotism and misappropriation of funds have left the railways with deficits running in billions of rupees. The industrial units of railways are running at loss. The locomotive factory, sleeper factories and the carriage factory as well as the other large manufacturing units of railways needs to be converted in to autonomous corporations
There are various reasons of the downfall of the Pakistan railway, like consumer dissatisfaction, corruption and mismanagement, corruption is the only way to the losses of the governments and state owned corps, and most of the complaints are about extremely low quality of services. Bad attitude of the employees toward passengers.
Like other developing countries Pakistan government should realize the importance of technologies and internet and use their tracks on several online map and travel help guide services to enhance the user experience and let the public select the train by checking the expected time on traveling, using maps like Google Maps this will easily give access to the public to not to face their employees bad attitudes. Another attempt could help Pakistan railway to rise and shine again and help the economy is to privatize railways this will stop the corruption and nepotism and it will eventually raise the customers satisfaction the PTCL is the best example of privatizing a company.

< Waqar Memon Media &Communication studies Department>

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