Drivers of locomotives engines of Pakistan Railways go on strike

Drivers of locomotives engines of Pakistan Railways go on strike

Quetta , Pakistan: Locomotives drivers of Pakistan Railways continue their strike that caused stoppage of trains at Quetta Railway Station.

According to state run news agency APP, passenger trains including Akbar Express, Chaman passenger train and Bolan Mail could not leave Quetta Railway Station for other provinces on Sunday due to the strike of drivers of Pakistan Railways who said that defective and faulty locomotives have been causing accidents.

Divisional Superintendant, Pakistan Railways Quetta Division, Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan Bugti, however, said that Jaffar Express had left Quetta Railway Station for its destination.

“Locomotive drivers went on strike on Sunday as they had reservations including the technical faults of the engines,” he said.

He said that the later, the drivers allowed a colleague driver to run Jaffar Express keeping in view the difficulties of passengers.

He said that he has informed the high-ups in the headquarters of Pakistan Railways about the demand of the protesting drivers.

“We are making all available efforts to ensure safety of passengers and railways employees,” he added.

It may be mentioned that on November 18, 2015, a Pakistan Railways train Jaffar Express carrying around 300 passengers from the provincial capital Quetta to the northern city of Rawalpindi was derailed on that caused death of 19 passengers.

Locomotives drivers believe that engine are not in capacity to maintain speed limit but drivers have to run on speed limit given by the schedule and this was causing derailments. They claim that almost all engines are faulty and must be laid off instead of using them and taking the risk of lives of people. It may be mentioned that corruption stories in procurement of locomotive engines from China have been in the headlines of national newspapers and several inquires are pending in these corruption cases.  However, no action had ever been taken because some former generals of Pakistan Army including the former Railways Minister who was a retired general were allegedly involved in these corruption cases.