Islamabad, July 2, 2026: A requisitioned meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways was held at Parliament House on Thursday, where lawmakers reviewed railway safety, implementation of previous recommendations and the overall performance of Pakistan Railways.
The meeting was presided over by MNA Ramesh Lal in the absence of the committee chairman, in accordance with sub-rule (2) of Rule 216 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
The committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on January 14, 2026, and examined in detail the implementation status of its earlier recommendations.
During the meeting, the Secretary of Pakistan Railways gave a comprehensive briefing on recent railway accidents, including the collision involving the Shalimar Express at Lakha Road Station in Sukkur Division and the derailment of the Tezgam Express on the Lodhran–Bahawalpur section.
Lawmakers were informed about the causes of the accidents, the findings of departmental inquiries and the disciplinary action initiated against officials found responsible.
The committee was also briefed on Pakistan Railways’ restructuring, revival and growth plan. The presentation covered the organisation’s strategic direction, governance framework, institutional reforms and implementation strategy.
The committee directed Pakistan Railways to submit a detailed report on encroachments along various sections of the railway network, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of the country.
It also asked the Ministry of Railways to give a comprehensive briefing at the next meeting on progress regarding the restructuring and revival plan, as well as the ML-1 and PIPRI projects.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Ibrar Ahmed, Waseem Qadir, Muhammad Numan, Sadiq Ali Memon, Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, Syed Waseem Hussain, Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui and Muhammad Ilyas Choudhary.
The Secretary, Ministry of Railways, Secretary of the Pakistan Railways Board, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Railways, and other senior officers and officials of the ministry and Pakistan Railways also attended the meeting.
