ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As many as 93 Pakistan Railway Officials were held responsible and penalized on corruption charges across the Country during the last five years, the Senate was told.
Replying to a question by Senator Shahadat Awan, the Minister for Railways told the House that during the last five years, 41 Railway Officials were held responsible and penalized on corruption charges in Karachi Division, 14 in Sukkur Division, 12 in Multan Division, 9 in Headquarters Office Lahore, 8 in Lahore, 5 in Rawalpindi, 3 in Mughalpura, and 1 in Quetta.
The House was apprised that following steps are being taken to control corruption in the Railways department:
- Ticket Vending Machines, online reservation of ticket has been introduced to avoid black marketing of tickets.
- Task teams have been established to keep watch on any irregularities and check the attendance of staff.
- Ticketless campaigns through Special Ticket Examiners (STEs) groups and officers are being carried on daily basis in the divisions to check and charge the ticketless passengers with penalty.
- Payment of pension is being carried out through online banking system to facilitate the pensioners as well as to eliminate the ghost pensioners.
- All the auctions are held through designated committee in transparent manner and deposited amount is being received through CDR duly verified by the concerned Divisional Accounts Officers (DAO).
- E-Kacheri as well as Khuli Kacheri are being carried out on monthly basis to solve the grievances complaints of staff / pensioners and public.
- Vigilance offices have been established over the system to control the corruption.
- Any complaint received from public / Railway staff is being entertained and resolved on priority basis.
- An online booking/reservation application system has been launched by Pakistan Railways known as Railway Automated Book and Travel Assistance (RABTA). This application has eased the booking process and also helps in monitoring cash inflows.
- To minimize the chances of corruption, the Human Resources Management & Information System, (HRMIS), Systems Applications & Products (SAP) in Data Processing have been launched to ensure less paperwork. Only authorized personnel have access to the data base of SAP and HRMIS.
- Regular performance review meetings are conducted to ensure the timely disposal of disciplinary cases of employees.
- Focal Persons have been nominated from all departments of Pakistan Railways to promptly resolve the complaints reported through Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU).
