Islamabad:- A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways was held at the Parliament House in under the chairmanship of Senator Shahadat Awan. The meeting was attended by Senators Nasir Mehmood, Dost Ali Jeesar and Rubina Khalid.
The Ministry of Railways briefed the Committee on budgetary allocations for new development schemes and apprised members of the projects completed by the Ministry. The Committee was informed that the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project extends from Karachi to Peshawar, covering a total length of 1,726 kilometers. Officials stated that approximately 70 percent of the country’s population travels through the ML-1 corridor. It was further informed that the track from Karachi to Lahore is double-track, whereas the section from Lahore to Peshawar is single-track. The Committee was also apprised that recent floods have caused significant damage to railway infrastructure.
The Chairman directed the Ministry of Railways to expedite the disposal of all pending matters of departmental committees on a priority basis and to submit a comprehensive report detailing disposed and pending audit paras. He further instructed the Ministry to furnish, within one month, a complete list of cases related to the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency. The Committee also sought details within three months regarding progress made in the vacation of encroached railway land.
Expressing serious concern over the frequent train accidents reported during the past year, the Chairman observed that disciplinary action had largely been confined to train drivers, while no senior officers had been held accountable. He directed the Ministry to ensure that all responsible officials are proceeded against in accordance with the law.
Highlighting security gaps at railway stations and onboard trains, the Chairman emphasized the need for comprehensive security arrangements in view of the upcoming festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. The Committee also sought an update on new recruitments aimed at strengthening the Railway security wing. The Chairman directed the DIG Railways to provide periodic briefings to the Committee on theft cases and related preventive measures.
Taking note of concerns raised by Senator Rubina Khalid regarding inadequate train services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chairman directed the Ministry to brief the Committee in forthcoming meetings on consultations held with the provinces regarding the upgradation and expansion of the railway network.
