Trains Halted As Railway Workers Strike Over Dues

The railway workers’ protest intensified on Friday as the financial woes of the state-run institution continued to afflict the employees, resulting in persistently delayed salaries.

Numerous intercity trains traveling from Lahore to Karachi, including the Karakoram Express, Pak Business Express, and Karachi Express, were unable to commence their scheduled journeys due to employee demonstrations on the railway tracks.

Despite two rounds of discussions with railway management, the workers’ protest displayed no signs of subsiding, leading to increased frustration.

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The situation escalated when passengers joined the protest after workers refused to leave the trains. A stranded passenger on the platform for over two hours lamented, “What are we being punished for?”

Employees have reported various issues with salary payments, with some not receiving pay for a month, while others have experienced significant delays. Some claim to have not received their salaries for the months of August and September.

Initially, railway workers obstructed the washing line before progressing to block the railway track in protest. They also prevented the Business Express train from traveling from Karachi to Lahore, forcing passengers to disembark and continue on foot.

During the protests, employees chanted slogans against the management and expressed their frustration with the difficult circumstances they are facing, while accusing the administration of being indifferent to their pleas for salaries.

Many employees noted that their homes have had their electricity and gas supplies disconnected due to unpaid bills.

These protests come after the outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Shahid Aziz, emphasized the dire situation a day earlier, stating that an urgent bailout package of Rs. 35 billion ($22 million) is required to rescue the beleaguered institution.

“We urgently need financial assistance from the government to overcome our fiscal crisis. We require approximately Rs. 4-5 billion ($2.5-3 million) to clear pending payments and allowances. Additionally, we need Rs. 8-10 billion ($5-6 million) for maintenance, including track and rolling stock,” he explained during a press conference before his retirement on Thursday. He also stressed the importance of addressing outstanding liabilities from previous years, bringing the total bailout requirement to Rs. 30-35 billion ($18-22 million).