Lahore: A special audit report of the Pakistan Railway’s Property and Land Department has revealed irregularities amounting to Rs. 12 billion, 49 crore, and 89 lakh.
A special audit was conducted to identify discrepancies in the Property and Land Department of the railway, according to which a private company, Ships, in Karachi incurred a loss of Rs. 1 billion and 16 crores due to the termination of their lease contract not being auctioned again.
The report also highlighted encroachments on more than 2,617 acres of land exceeding Rs. 3 billion and 49 crores in Multan, 1,937 acres in Rawalpindi, and 593 acres in Quetta. In addition, illegal petrol pumps are operating on railway lands exceeding Rs. 2 billion and 17 crores in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Despite the orders of the Supreme Court, 63 acres of land at Gilani Railway Station in Karachi have not been vacated yet. The failure to vacate the land at Gilani Station has hindered the operational implementation of the Karachi Circular Railway project, with the land’s value estimated at Rs. 4 billion and 40 crores.
According to the audit report, 63 acres of land at Gilani Railway Station were illegally obtained by the Railway Employees Cooperative Housing Society and handed over to private parties. Similarly, 602 railway quarters in Sukkur were not vacated from illegal occupants.
The audit report also revealed that government dues amounting to Rs. 22 crore and 12 lakh have not been collected from various cities yet. In Sukkur and Rohri, outstanding dues exceed Rs. 7 crore and 18 lakh, while the Food Department in Multan owes Rs. 9 crore and 63 lakh in lease dues.
The report also highlighted a lack of qualified personnel for the organization and management of railway properties and the absence of engineers appointed at most locations for Railway Property Management.