December 30: A PILDAT Analysis on Performance of Pakistan
Railways shows that while major challenges remain for the country’s
largest passenger and freight network, the past two years since 2013 have
shown improvement in the performance of Pakistan Railways. Pakistan Railways’
earnings have increased and its punctuality rate is up from 53% in 2013 to
70% in 2015. The Railways was able to exceed its targeted earnings during
2014-2015 and reduce its financial deficit. These improvements have come about
through larger investments in infrastructure development, purchase of new
operational locomotives and an increase in quality of services. However, the
sustainability of this trend will depend on the political will of the top
political leadership and continued dedication of the Railways Team to the
mission of turning this crucially-important State institution around.
At a Briefing Session, organized by PILDAT to discuss the
performance of Pakistan Railways, key stakeholders critically evaluated the
Railways Performance and offered recommendations and a way forward. Among
others, Khawaja Saad Rafique, MNA and Federal Minister of
Railways, Syed Naveed Qamar, MNA and Chairman National Assembly
Standing Committee on Railways, and Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak,
PTI, shared their perspectives at the Briefing Session.
“Priority was given to de-politicising Pakistan Railways in order to
ensure turnaround of this important State Institute.”– Khawaja
Saad Rafique, MNA, Federal Minister of Railways.
Among other key state institutions, the Pakistan Railways
sits atop the ever-burgeoning pile of poor governance inflicting Pakistan.
The deteriorating quality of services and declining number of passengers and
trains in Pakistan Railways, which once used to be the predominant mode of
transportation in Pakistan, offers a classic case study in lack of vision
and will over the years. At its peak between 1955 and 1960, the Railways handled
73 per cent of freight traffic, which fell sharply down to less than 4 per
cent in 2015. During 1970s, Pakistan Railways also had the largest passenger
carrier share in transportation. Participants deliberated upon the reasons
for the huge setback to Railways’ role as a catalyst for economic development.
While significant under-investment by successive governments in Railways is
one reason, lack of political focus and commitment to the country’s
key State institution was considered to be the reason at the heart of the
issue.
As part of its focus on improving quality of governance, PILDAT
periodically monitors the quality of performance of key State institutions
with a view to highlight the issues and offer recommendations for strengthening
these institutions. PILDAT study in analysing the performance of Pakistan
Railways is an attempt to showcase the state of affairs at this important
institution of the State and present to the citizens and policymakers alike
some of the recommendations that can help improve the Pakistan Railways. PILDAT
analysis is prepared with support and collaboration of the very institutions
whose performance is evaluated and we are grateful for the support provided
by the top political and technical management of Pakistan Railways in preparing
our performance analysis.
The briefing session was followed by a discussion session
where participants, including parliamentarians, government officials, esteemed
members of media and civil society discussed the way forward for Pakistan
Railways.
The complete report can be accessed at:
http://www.pildat.org/publications/publication/
GovernanceAssessment/PerformanceAnalysisofPakistanRailways.pdf
For Further Information:
Phone: 042-111-123-345 Ext: 112
E-mail: marrium.khan@pildat.org
Twitter: @PILDAT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PILDAT/
Website: http://www.pildat.org
