Pakistan Railways : Saad Rafique Exclusive

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Re: Pakistan Railways : Saad Rafique Exclusive

I have to make three main points on his interview

  1. Pakistan Railway ran in profit till introduction of NLC in the late seventies by pir-o-murshid and mentor of NS. That Amir-ul mominin changed the priority from rail to road. Minister’s statement is not based on truth about railway ran in loss in 1974.

  2. He said that future plan is to electrify track between Karachi and Lahore to run railway at 150 mph. There is acute shortage of electric power in Pakistan, how this minister will get a very large amount of electric power to run the trains? Why even bother to spend billions of $s on such non-viable projects?

You know what happened to KWL-LHR electrified section when 22 GEC (British) electric locomotives use to switch at KWL and LHR stations to run all mail, express and some freight trains. Those 22 locomotives gone down the gutter and perhaps sold in scrap. I heard that overhead copper wires which used to carry 25000V are regularly being cut and stolen by thieves living between Khanewal and Lahore.

  1. As far I know a number of passengers and freight rolling stock has plane bearings. The speed limit for such coaches is not more than 45 mph and four wheelers even less speed, that is 35 mph.

Otherwise he seems to be very sincere, honest, full of optimism and energy. It is hoped that he will turn around the system as he has promised in the above interview.

(Registani Panchhi if you don’t understand, ask from Railway Engineer what I am talking about and convey these concerns to Railway Minister)