Audit reveals massive irregularities in Pakistan Railways

ISLAMABAD – An audit of Pakistan Railways’ Property and Land Department found errors of Rs12.49 billion, according to Dunya News.

The special audit, which covered four years of departmental activities, was done to find weaknesses.

According to the audit report, encroachments have been found on 2,617 acres of Pakistan Railways land worth more than Rs3.049 billion out of a total of 1,350,312 kanals across the country.

Significant encroachments include 1,937 acres in Multan, 87.13 acres in Rawalpindi, and 593 acres in Quetta.

The report adds that illicit petrol stations have been discovered on land worth more than Rs2.017 billion in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Despite a legal ruling, 63 acres of land belonging to the Gilani railway station in Karachi, valued at Rs4.40 billion, remain in dispute, impeding the ambition to start a circular train.

Similarly, 602 railway quarters in Sukkur have yet to be abandoned.

The study also reveals unpaid dues of Rs221.2 million from various government offices across cities that have yet to be collected.

Furthermore, the termination of a lease deal with a private fitness company in Karachi resulted in a Rs1.01 billion loss owing to non-auction.

According to the research, the people in charge of railway property management lack the appropriate qualifications, thus engineers frequently assume these responsibilities.