Staff Report
LAHORE: The Railway Prem Union has rejected the government’s expected decision to privatize Pakistan Railways.
The union has launched a protest campaign under the slogan “Privatization of Railways is Treason Against the Nation.”
Railway employees have raised banners and posters at different stations nationwide, including those in freezing conditions at Chaman Border, Shela Bagh and Walbedin, chanting slogans against privatization.
Union Leaders’ Statements
The Railway Prem Union, Chairman Ziauddin Ansari, President Sheikh Muhammad Anwar, General Secretary Khair Muhammad Tunio, Vice President Abdul Qayyum Awan, and Chief Organizer Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry lauded the employees’ enthusiasm.
They said that the privatization of Pakistan’s largest welfare institution equates to treachery against the nation. They said, “No one will be allowed to privatize the railways.
They said the employees are ready to shed their blood to save the institution.
We will never permit the looting of railway in the name of privatization. The spirit of railway employees cannot be defeated, they added.
Commitment to Workers’ Rights
They pledged that the struggle for workers’ rights initiated under the late Hafiz Salman Butt’s leadership would continue under all circumstances.
They criticized the Ministry of Railways’ inefficiency for failing to present the railway’s case effectively to the government.
The union leaders appealed to the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision.
Allegations Against Government
The union leaders alleged that the government was planning to plunder the railway’s assets worth trillions of rupees.
They underscored that the railway is a symbol of national unity and highlighted its record revenue of over Rs 88 billion at the end of the last fiscal year—a 40% increase from the previous year.
The railway was assigned a revenue target of Rs 73 billion at the start of the fiscal year and surpassed it significantly.
Call for Restoration
Terming the privatization of such a profitable institution as a conspiracy against national integrity, they demanded that the railways be handed over to its workers instead of privatization.
They said we assure that they could generate more profit than any private company.
They asked the government for the restoration of the old pension and gratuity system, abolishing the new laws.
