The NA panel said that scanners are not working at railway stations.

ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways was informed on Wednesday that scanners and walk-through gates are not working at all railway stations except Lahore.

The committee met at the Parliament House here under the chairmanship of its convener Ramesh Lal. Railway police officials told the sub-committee that the boundary wall of Quetta railway station has been broken. He said that the Quetta station accident report was submitted by the Deputy Superintendent (DS) Quetta to the headquarters, but no action was taken. When the committee members expressed their anger over the failure of the scanners, the railway police officials said that we tried to install CCTV cameras but the scanners are not our responsibility. He told the committee that you don’t have funds to buy CCTV cameras.

The members of the sub-committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Railways. Ramesh Lal said that CEO Railways should have come to the committee. The Railway Minister was also not available, the committee members objected.

For not attending the meeting despite being told, the convener of the committee decided to bring a privilege motion in the National Assembly against CEO Railways.

Railway police officials told the committee that 250 posts of constables have been sanctioned.

Ramesh said that the railways failed to remove encroachments along the tracks and a major train accident could happen at any time. He alleged that the railway authorities extort money from the encroachers and are harming the institution. He said that there are encroachments on properties worth Rs 20 crore in Sukkur division.

The sub-committee was informed that a separate railway company has been formed to look after the affairs of railway lands.

Committee member Waseem Qadir said that a meeting should be called at the railway headquarters and the officers should be held accountable. He said that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railways should also be invited to the committee.