ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways on Monday expressed displeasure over the absence of the minister and directed the ministry to ensure his attendance at the next meeting.
The committee took serious notice of the ownership dispute over a piece of land in Lahore on which a petrol pump had been established for the welfare of the families of Pakistan Railways police martyrs and personnel who died in the line of duty. It directed the Ministry of Railways to devise a viable solution and submit a report within a month.
The meeting of the committee was held at Parliament House and presided over by MNA Ramesh Lal in the absence of the chairman. The committee reviewed the compliance report on recommendations made during its meeting held on July 2, 2026.
It also reviewed the proposed upgradation of railway stations in the Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Karachi and Quetta divisions. Thecommittee was briefed by the secretary railways on the proposed upgradation of railway tracks, restructuring plan, strategic priorities, budgetary allocations, expenditure plans, performance targets and the overall roadmap.
During the meeting, the IG Railway Police said 300 families of employees and personnel who died during service were currently awaiting dues under the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package. He said if the Railway Police personnel remained lumped into the general railway employees’ list, their turn will not arrive even in the next 15 years under the current disbursement mechanism.
In response, MNA Waseem Qadir proposed through the chair that police martyrs be separated from the general railway employees’ roster and granted priority compensation as a frontline law enforcement agency (LEA).
Endorsing the proposal, MNA Malik Ibrar Ahmed said redressing the grievances of the families of those who sacrificed their lives on the front line must remain a top priority.