The Pakistan Railway is planning to increase the already exorbitant fares (nearing discounted air fares) on the pretext of increase in the oil prices which has already gone down substantially in the world market.
Even the World Bank has taken note of non-responsive and inflexible behaviour of the Oil Advisory Committee towards substantial reduction in the world oil prices.
It is very surprising that on the one hand the railway is making hue and cry of its losses but never attempts to reduce such lossses by other alternative means of contributing towards its fixed costs like increased sales volume which can be achieved by running excursion trains on various occasions of heavy booking, eg, Eid festivals (when seats are not available and people are forced to go by air).
By running all air-conditioned trains on shorter routes, eg, Karachi-Hyderabad where the financially healthy bus service is enjoying complete monopoly. These steps are likely to reduce the burden and sufferings of the poor and middle class people.
It is now high time for the government to provide some relief to the down-trodden people. Instead of spending huge amounts of money on making underpass roads to be enjoyed primarily by the rich class (God knows when the effect would ever trickle down to the poor and middle class), the government is requested to set some priorities and give proper attention to the improvement of the railways (supposedly the cheapest means of transport all over the world), including seriously working on the construction of the double track in the country.
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