The meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Railways in the National Assembly met under the chair of MNA and committee convener Ramesh Lal to discuss railways issues in Balochistan, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.
DS Railways briefed the members of the committee that there are difficulties in the functioning of the railways due to the shortage of staff in Quetta Division.
Convener Committee said railways employees do not do any work, on the contrary, they rob the people. Secretary Railway Board said in each division, the railways will appoint its own Deputy Director Property and Land.
Secretary Railway Board said he will make new appointments in this regard, the work of which will be to eliminate commercial use of railway land and encroachments.
Ramesh Lal told the meeting that Railway officers take bribes from mafias. In Sukkur, the railway refuses to take its own land.
DS Railway Quetta briefed Standing Committee on train operation by saying that one track suspended due to security concerns. Only break packet train is operational on Taftan railway line. Limited cargo operation continues from Quetta to Karachi and Peshawar.
He said Pakistan Railways has 22,488 acres of land in Quetta Division and only 600 acres of land in Quetta Division was leased by the Railways.
Talking about security situation, 23 bomb blasts in Balochistan in 2024 which severely affected operations in the province. He said that 47.77 acres of land out of 54 acres in Quetta was leased to the Operative Society in 1990.
DS Railway Quetta said roads and infrastructure construction has been made on railway land, RCD highway established on railways land.
He said Pakistan Railway's 622-km line active inside Iran, train operation continues from Taftan to Zahedan. DS Railway Quetta said over 347 acres of railway land in Quetta Division under use by various government departments. He said 53 acres of railway land is being provided to the army and paramilitary forces for security reasons.