Deficit in Pakistan Railways Budget

REASONS OF DEFICIT IN PAKISTAN RAILWAYS' BUDGET

We observe every year Pakistan Railways budget deficit. We see often that passengers on main railway stations are perplexed for seeking reservations of seats and berths. They face the difficulties and hardships for getting reservations. The passengers often do not get reservations from the reservation counters but the Railways Policemen have the reservations of seats and berths both. It means that railways policemen are selling reservation seats and berths. They say to the passengers not to purchase the tickets and even reservation tickets or berth tickets but they would provide them the seats or berths in the train.The Special Ticket Examiners (STEs) in the trains do not cooperate with the travelers who purchase the tickets but have not seats or berths. The STEs also support this corrupt reservation system which is hijacked by the railways police staff. Railways Magistrates and Special Inspection Teams should intervene such matters and should make such policies that this railway revenue theft would be stopped on regular basis otherwise the railways budget deficit would not be recovered. Special Inspection Teams of Railways should consist of the civilian and common or renowned persons on district level so that the transparancy in railways revenue system be elevated. I can support Pakistan Railways in this matter of urgency.

Progress of Constitutional Reforms Committee

PROGRESS OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS COMMITTEE

The work of constitutional reforms, modifications and improvements is on going by the Constitutional Reforms Committee in the parliament. Mian Nawaz Sharif has announced that he is ready to cooperate and coordinate with the government on the basis of this work of constitutional improvement. President Asif Ali Zardari himself came to hold meeting with Mian Saheb at his Raiwind residence and issued the joint press statement consisting of eleven points. This eleven point work agenda is in the mainstream of the governing authorities. This was the latest development between the main two big political parties of the country. People want the media publicity of this matter so hat they would be able to monitor the current and latest performance of the government performance at highest level. The members of parliament have this business in the Assemblies. Collected suggestions and proposals are being considered from all the provinces. Members from all the political parties are the part of the Constitutional Reforms Committee. Its progress report on monthly basis should be monitored by the President and Prime Minister themselves and to be presented publicly on media time to time. Shahbaz Sharif goes to Aiwan-e-Sadar so what is the matter with Nawaz Sharif that he does not approach there himself.

People are analyzing the progress of this committee. Ulema have a special interest in the progress of this matter. The previous government had amended the constitution by passing Women Protection Bill. This bill was criticized by the Ulema of Sunni Hanafi sect especially in the newspapers. Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman from Barelvi and Mufti Taqi Usmani from Deobandi maslak (sect) both criticized this Ordinance and Bill in their columns in the largest group of newspaper Daily Jang. The weaknesses in this bill should firstly be removed this bill needs urgent attention to be improved or to repeal completely. This bill is more necessary to amend and improve than NRO or the other new disputes generating matters. The incidents of target killings have been increasing day by day in Karachi and Balochistan. 424 persons have been killed by targeting in Karachi during last three months from June to August while 372 persons have been targeted and killed in Balochistan during first seven months of this year including workers and officials of foreign agencies. Ulema have already demanded and pressurized for the separate Sessions (Meetings) of women parliamentarians in the Assemblies and Senate. I support this suggestion, demand and proposal.