Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has expressed grave concerns over severe financial crunch in Pakistan Railways, but expressed his firm resolve to revive this national institution with the co-operation of Railways' employees and by working on war footing basis with missionary zeal.
Addressing the Railways officers and officials here on Thursday at Railway Headquarter‚ he said the government was committed to revive all the institutions and no stone would be left unturned in this regard. He said that the masses had given a huge responsibility to PML-N and "we will fulfil the responsibility at any cost because we consider ourselves answerable to the 180 million people of Pakistan who voted us."
He further said that workers and officers are the civil servant of Pakistan and they should behave like civil servant, realising their responsibilities and official obligations. Pakistan Railways could be made profit generating organisation with the sincere efforts and will power of the employees. Hence every worker should contribute to streamline the operation of the national organisation, he added. The Minister said that no one would be allowed to do corruption and all the appointments would be made only on merit. 'We would rebuild Pakistan Railways and all the issues would be resolved on priority basis but it will take some time. All the prevailing problems could not be resolved within days," he added.
To a question, he said acute shortage of locomotive, oil pilferage, mismanagement in others section of the Railway were great challenges and people involved in it would be dealt with iron hands. "Do not consider me a minister rather I am a political worker and would like to perform my duties now as a Railway worker," he added.
He said that devastation of years could not be corrected within days; profit generating organisation was thrown into deficit. "Pakistan Railway employees must understand that Pakistan Railways is not being privatised rather it would be converted into Corporation where Public Private Partnership would be introduced to resolves the chronic issues," he added. Saad Rafique said that monopolies circles would be broken and non-political oriented but effective policies would be promoted.
He said that Vigilance Cell had been restored and reactivated which would be helpful to streamline the system and it would also enhance the performance indicators of various section of Pakistan Railway. Vigilance cell will monitor the performance of the officers as well as the officials and strict action would be taken against the inefficient employees of the Railway, he maintained.
A senior officer of Pakistan Railway told this scribe that during the briefing, the minister showed disagreement and expressed deep concerns over the facts and figures presented by the Railway officers as there was great variation in expenditures and income.