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According to recently obtained data, Pakistan Railways has recorded a staggering 95 accidents between 1st January and 20th December this year. The disturbingly high number is a blatant indictment of a state institution that has been teetering on the edge of collapse for quite some time now. For any functional nation, train travel is a symbol of service for the ordinary citizen and should be protected with utmost safety and security. But in Pakistan, it has instead become a game of Russian roulette for the millions who rely on it.
The sheer frequency of these incidents — averaging nearly one in every four days — suggests that a disaster of this magnanimity has unfortunately been normalised. Take, for instance, the collision of the Shalimar Express with a brick-laden trolley at an unmanned crossing in May, which derailed all 15 coaches. Or consider the August derailment of the Islamabad Express, wherein 30 passengers were injured due to a broken track. These are not ‘freak accidents’ or natural disasters; they are the inevitable consequence of a system that chooses to ignore infrastructural failure and has deemed the lives of people insignificant in value.
The railway administration boasts of ‘modernisation’ through renovated station facades, improved waiting areas and the introduction of Wi-Fi facilities at some locations. But when the budget for improvements is not adequately utilised, these ‘modernisations’ undoubtedly come at the cost of passengers’ lives. The administration instead needs to prioritise safety and security, especially when terrorist organisations routinely target railway tracks for political agendas. The lack of investment in safety infrastructure, particularly the hundreds of unmanned level crossings that act as death traps, is a policy failure.
Until Pakistan Railways shifts its focus from cosmetic upgrades to substantial modernisation, or even foundational safety, the department will continue to be a liability rather than an asset.
