ISLAMABAD: A Senate standing committee on Tuesday sought explanation from the Ministry of Railways about recommendation to the prime minister for his approval to the appointment of a junior official as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Pakistan Railways (PR).

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Railways presided over by Asad Ali Khan Junejo asked the railways ministry why six junior officials were shortlisted in the presence of senior officials and a summary was sent to the prime minister for approval.

The committee asked the ministry to submit an explanation at the next meeting that under which rule the prime minister could promote a junior official.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad had raised the issue of recommending to the prime minister the appointment of a junior official to a high post in Pakistan Railways.

The committee sought a reply from the railways ministry as to when the payment of Rs47 million as compensation to the victims of the Tezgam Express accident of October 31 last year will be completed.

It also sought the name of official who had announced the compensation. Mr Junejo said the government should honour its commitment if it had promised to give compensation.

The committee asked the ministry of railways to send recommendations of the committee to the prime minister.

The meeting was informed that 14 train accidents had taken place since June 9 this year, claiming lives of 22 people and causing injuries to several others.

The committee was informed that the Quetta-Taftan track has not been updated ever since it was laid. A fresh feasibility of the track has been prepared, and it has been decided that the track will be merged with ML-3 project and linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor network.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2020