Pakistan Railways is facing a deepening crisis driven by severe financial stress, staff shortages, and operational inefficiencies, which is forcing the system to continue passenger and freight services under highly insufficient conditions. The situation is increasingly affecting service reliability and raising serious concerns about the safety of passengers and railway personnel, according to Dawn.

As reported by Dawn, limited financial resources have led to serious compromises in maintenance and day-to-day operations. Officials acknowledge that a lack of funding has damaged key infrastructure and assets, including locomotives, coaches, wagons, and railway tracks, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.

Internal discussions have repeatedly highlighted the severity of the crisis, with many officers expressing concern over their inability to perform duties effectively. A senior official from the Lahore Division stated that the region is operating with about half of its approved workforce. He also pointed out that even small financial approvals, such as PKR 500,000, are delayed due to lengthy bureaucratic procedures involving headquarters, which slows down urgent decision-making. Despite these difficulties, railway employees continue to work under significant pressure to keep services running.

The crisis, rooted in long-standing structural and financial issues, has worsened over the past six to seven years and reached a critical stage by 2026. Even the outgoing CEO reportedly struggled to sustain operations and ensure timely salary payments, reflecting the depth of institutional strain.

Due to resource shortages, makeshift repair practices have become common, including dismantling parts from some coaches to fix others, as noted by Dawn. All eight railway divisions—Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Sukkur, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and the Workshop division—are experiencing similar difficulties. Officials warn that under current conditions, achieving operational and revenue goals is becoming increasingly difficult. During a recent meeting, Divisional Superintendent Inam Ullah Khan reportedly emphasized the need to improve train operations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.