Lahore – Pakistan Railways (PR) faces the prospect of a nationwide strike as train drivers accuse the administration of ignoring safety concerns and unfairly blaming them for recent derailments.
The Train Drivers Association says a significant number of freight wagons are running without functional brakes, creating “rolling death traps” on the tracks. While passenger services have seen improvements with faulty coaches removed, freight operations reportedly continue with defective rolling stock.
“Derailments aren’t happening because of driver negligence — they’re caused by brakeless wagons,” said Karim Bakhsh, president of the association’s Multan chapter, in an interview on Saturday. “The officers know this but still hold drivers responsible. It’s unacceptable.”
Railways Ordered Safety Checks, But Compliance Remains Spotty
Following multiple derailments, including incidents involving trains 116-Down and 14-Down, the Railways Ministry ordered stricter inspections. Officials were instructed to use only mechanically cleared coaches and wagons with certified braking efficiency.
Despite this, Bakhsh claims nearly half of the wagons used in freight services remain faulty. “We met with officers and gave them one week to fix this issue. If not, goods train operations will come to a halt,” he warned.
Drivers Push Back Against ‘Blame Game’
In Lahore, association president Irfan Iqbal criticized the administration’s approach, calling it “condemnable” to accuse drivers of overshooting signals while the system itself is riddled with problems. He highlighted malfunctioning safety devices and sensors on locomotives, arguing that drivers are being scapegoated for systemic failures.
“When equipment doesn’t work, expecting flawless performance from drivers is absurd,” Iqbal said, signaling possible escalation if directives are not implemented.
Crackdown on Electricity Theft
Separately, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) reported a major anti-theft operation at Awan Town Bazaar. Teams removed 18 meters and 100 meters of illegal wiring, arresting 10 individuals. Police have been asked to register formal cases against the accused.
