Pakistan Railways (PR) is setting up state of the art luggage scanners at major railway stations in Karachi Division. The aim of establishing the technology-based luggage scanners is to ensure swift and effective baggage checking mechanism. The facilities would also help enhance the sense of security among the travellers.
In the initial phase, the divisional management is establishing two luggage scanners - one for upper class passengers and the other for lower class passengers at Karachi Cantonment Station. "We have already awarded contract for the Karachi Cantonment project. The work is underway and hopefully both facilities will be functional by the end of June." Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) Nasir Nazir told Business Recorder.
At present, railway passenger's baggage is inspected manually but this does not ensure foolproof screening and our objective for installing luggage scanners is to upgrade our entire security apparatus. To a query Nasir said there is no need to recruit any new personnel for operating and monitoring the luggage scanners and that the Railway Police and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) will be trained to operate the scanners.
He also said, Karachi Cantonment Railway Station handles dozens of trains each day, and some 15,000 passengers and 300 tons luggage passing through the station would be scanned efficiently and without any delays. Also, in the next three months PR would install luggage scanners in Hyderabad and at the Zero-Point Railway Station (Tharparker). The railways have already installed some 70 high-resolution close-circuit television cameras at the Cantonment Railway Station and these are currently fully functional, he added.
Meanwhile, during a brief visit of Cantonment Railway Station on Monday, this scribe observed lack of proper security measures at the railway station. No policeman was seen posted at the main entry points to frisk and check the passengers or their bags.
Also, nearly half a dozen personnel were seen stopping vehicles at the main entrance gate, but this was not for security checks, but for collecting parking fees from vehicle owners. Furthermore, two policemen deployed outside the PR building, were seen busy extorting money from the auto rickshaw and taxi drivers instead of ensuring security for passengers and PR assets.