These days due to some issues with our TV and suspension of GEO TV channel, I have not been watching much TV and have been giving more time to my professional work and don’t remain fully up-to date.
I went to train reservation center to enjoy my Eid holidays at Ghotki but I saw hundreds of people outside cantt station before 1 day of holidays, which is surprising because many people leave for Eid at least 2 days before Eid. I joined one long queue at center and observed many people having ticket in their hand, on inquiring I got to know that “A train has been de-railed in Sindh” which has taken around 500 lives (un-official number) and many got injured and no way for me to get into train because train was not cleared till then and was supposed to happen on the next day.
I waited for one day and on next day I went to get the ticket in train but I have been roaming around at least for 2 hours to get the ticket but couldn’t get appropriate reply from concerned authorities. Reservation center said “Chart has been released, we can’t issue ticket now, please consult Train guard’. I consulted train guard and he said “I don’t have ticket chart”. Then I tried to travel through bus and they charged me double fair because of the rush. But again this was not comfortable because in bus “Staff is the POLICE, staff is the LAW and staff is the COURT” They can make you sit on any seat they want, they can ask you to leave the coach at any place if you don’t listen them. Almost on every trip to Ghotki I see at least one fight.
When I look at these kinds of scenarios, following questions pop-up in my mind, can someone answer to these?
Why train accidents have become a routine? Why don’t Pakistan railways improve the system?
Who is the controlling authority for bus transportation in Pakistan? Do they care?
Why they hell they can do anything they want, why they double the fair without any permission and don’t decrease when there is no rush??
Why they don’t feel that passengers are humans and they shouldn’t push people more than capacity?
What does motorway do in this? What are they far?
What can we do to stop these frequent train accidents and this annoying attitude by bus staff?
What mode of transportation should be used, If not bus and train having no airport at my hometown?
