At least four people were killed and several others injured as a passenger train collided with a goods train on late Wednesday night near Multan. At the moment investigation is underway to determine the fault and initial inquiry report held driver of passenger train responsible for the collision.
There are numerous reasons behind high volume of train accidents in Pakistan, some of these include usual failed brakes, collapsed bridges, and militant attacking railway tracks etc. If we put glance at the history of Pakistan Railways, we would find that it was an institution flourishing during colonial days as thousands of miles of tracks and trains were established, but now incompetence in the department is taking the institution to lowest point while other countries have made it a profitable mode of transportation.
Corrupt elements in the department aside but government also failed to bring positive changes in the railways and lack of budget is one of the main reasons for its decline. Government has promised to provide additional locomotives but failed to do so and railways still running on few hundred engines while thousands required to run the business in a better manner. Most of the engines are outdated and rely on human operators, which is a major threat to the safety of passengers.
To make Pakistan railways a profitable and secure institution significantly greater numbers of trains are required considering the ever mounting population and demand and an immediate overhaul of the rail infrastructure is also need of time. Railways in India were going through similar dismal circumstances but in recent times they have developed into one of world’s largest train network running on its own steam. Technical up-gradation should be done on an immediate basis to avoid greater tragedies in future.
There is dire need to take positive and immediate measure to put railways on right track.