A report issued by the Auditor General of Pakistan has revealed new findings regarding financial losses incurred by Pakistan Railways.
According to sources, the Auditor General’s report highlighted a staggering loss of PKR 4.9 billion, with excessive fuel consumption being identified as a major contributing factor.
Additional causes of the financial losses include signalling, rolling stock, and electrical malfunctions, leading to training delays and disruptions in the transport schedule. In particular, Pakistan Railways incurred fuel-related losses of PKR 1.41 billion in Multan, PKR 75 million in Rawalpindi, PKR 30 million in Karachi, and PKR 3.387 billion in Sukkur.
Moreover, during a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah, it was disclosed that Pakistan Railways deals with 2,063 corruption cases involving billions in embezzled funds. Committee member Kamal Ali Agha pointed out that despite the vast number of cases, only 110 individuals have been penalized. Furthermore, there were reports of oil theft in four railway divisions.
The committee’s chairman expressed shock at the scale of the financial irregularities. In response, the Inspector General (IG) of Railways stated that the department is severely understaffed and under-resourced, noting that recruitment has not been carried out in the police force for a considerable time. “Either provide us with the necessary resources or disband the railway police,” the IG stated.
Senator Shahadat Awan raised concerns over why these corruption cases have been pending for over two decades. The IG explained, “Whenever I take action, complaints are escalated to the ministry. I cannot even dismiss employees for negligence. I find myself in a helpless position.”
