National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways Monday recommended to the federal government to launch effective fire fighting system at all the bogies of the trains in Pakistan to avoid the incidents like Tezgam Express fire incident and employ at least one member of each family who lost their loved ones in this tragedy.
Committee's Chairman Mueen Wattoo from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) presided over the committee meeting. The committee members expressed serious concerns over the standards of safety in the operational trains of Pakistan Railways and said that the incident like Tezgam Express fire incident could be prevented had an effective fire fighting system put in place in the bogies of the trains.
The committee asked the federal government inspector of railways (FGIR) to furnish the final report of Tezgam Express for the perusal of the committee. The NA panel also recommended that the Pakistan Railways should periodically revisit its policies to improve the efficiency of the trains and minimize any chances of untoward incidents.
On October 31 this year, up to 70 people were reported burnt to death and scores got injured after Pakistan Railway's Tezgam Express that was on its way from Karachi to Lahore caught fire near Rahim Yar Khan. Although, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid claimed that the incident took place due to the explosion of a stove used by a passenger for the preparation of breakfast whereas several passengers and eyewitnesses claimed that incident took place due to short circuit in Tezgam Express.
Meanwhile, Secretary Railways Sikandar Sultan Raja briefed the committee about the financial constraints of the railways. The committee suggested to the Railways Ministry to prepare the financial proposals and present them in the next meeting so as to enable the committee to pass on the recommendation to cater for the financial requirements of Pakistan Railways for its smooth functioning.
Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) Pakistan Railways Agha Waseem Ahmad briefed the committee on the issue of railways scrap lying unattended at different railways stations in the country. Three stores at Karachi, Lahore and Sukkur are established for dumping the railways scrap of three types, he said. The CCM also briefed that the railways has fixed the target to sale the scrap of value Rs 1250 million during the current financial years. On the theft of railways scrap, Ahmad said that about 34 first information reports (FIRs) have been registered against the accused and efforts are underway to recover the stolen scrap.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019