GLOC via railways

Let me begin by sharing an interesting story about railways for literature aficionados. Mirza Hadi Ruswa, the writer of the popular Urdu novel, Umrao Jaan Ada, had varied interests, astronomy, higher mathematics, philosophy, theology and languages being some. He had also received an Overseer diploma from Thomas School of Engineering, Roorkee. Therefore, at one point in his career, he was working as a railway engineer laying tracks in Balochistan. Who knows which parts of the legendary story set in Lucknow were actually conceived in Mach or Bolan. Or may be some other fictional or poetic work of high literary value that he produced was written in Balochistan.
Railway is considered the cheapest mode of transportation for large numbers of passengers and heavy freight alike. Most of the advanced and developing countries have elaborate and efficient railway networks. Those of us who have visited Europe, the Far East or India, have experienced their cost efficient and comfortable rail travel. Particularly the countries that do not produce any or sufficient oil to meet their energy needs, invest more in creating safe, cheap and efficient rail systems.
The latest and one of the most fascinating developments in our part of the world is the underground train in Delhi. While we find it hard to revive the overland Karachi Circular Railway, which once was and still can be the most economical and efficient mass transit system for the conurbation of Karachi, Delhi has got new underground trains running.
It was in this month of May, one hundred and fifty-one years ago, that the first railway line in our part of South Asia was opened for public. It was laid between Karachi and Kotri. In another thirty years or so, Scinde Railway, Punjab Railway, Delhi Railway and the Indian Flotilla Company were up and running in areas which now constitute Pakistan. All these were expanded and merged at a later stage and we inherited the North Western Railway in 1947.
Pakistan renamed it to Pakistan Western Railway. It became Pakistan Railways after East Pakistan became Bangladesh. Smaller tracks in different parts of the country and a railway track for commuting within Karachi was laid.
However, a combination of disinvestment, mismanagement, inefficiency and financial misappropriation turned Pakistan Railways into a sick, indebted and worthless institution. Railway had inherited massive land tracts and choicest property in big and small towns.
A lot of it is encroached upon by other state institutions or private mafias. Even in days like these, we see a large number of people travelling by train across the country and the rail cargo service being used by many. It is much cheaper than travelling by air and more comfortable than travelling by road.
There is a dire need to reform and revive the Pakistan Railways in the interest of energy efficiency, local business development and providing a cheap transport facility to the common people. While it needs management overhaul and a new business paradigm, it also needs massive investment – first to bring it back to the status of a performing institution, and then to expand its services. We have a window of opportunity now if those running the country are genuinely interested in making the railways work.
It seems both the civilian leadership and the military have decided to restore the Nato-Isaf Ground Lines of Communication (GLOC). Pakistan’s participation in the Chicago summit, the statements made by our foreign minister, the Turkish prime minister’s recent visit, etc. all point in that direction. If that is happening, why can’t the Pakistan Railways become a substantive part of the GLOC and get the required investment for its revival?
The writer is an Islamabad-based poet and author. Email: harris.khalique@gmail.com