The Railway Estate Development and Marketing Company (Pvt) Limited, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Railways, is currently inviting bids to lease six sites of prime locations in different cities on a long-term rental basis for 33 years. The leasing out of the railway land is highly objectionable for three main reasons. First, the land would be used for private and commercial purpose, which would be a bad economic, financial and commercial policy. The railways need to improve its operations, rather than to subsidise loss-making operations. Second, the land does not belong to the railways. It was provided to the organisation free of cost for providing transport services to people.
If the railways is unable to provide these services, it should revert to the city authorities for use in public interest. Third, the establishment of private companies by government departments is a new invention to circumvent rules and regulations concerning appointments, audit and accounts. It is an open general licence for the embezzlement of funds. If the railways learn to operate professionally, no goods truck will be visible on GT Road from Karachi to Peshawar and there will be no long distance intercity buses. People will prefer train for their journeys.
Abdul Majeed
Islamabad
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