Pakistan’s Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi, on Thursday ordered a ban on air-conditioner use at Pakistan Railways (PR) headquarters, including in the CEO’s office, in protest over delays in installing new AC units in express trains.
Abbasi said officials must understand the discomfort faced by passengers who paid for AC coaches that remain non-functional. “Only four of the 100 AC units expected by June 10 have arrived,” he stated, blaming the delay on poor planning and late orders placed with just one vendor.
He warned that if complaints about malfunctioning train ACs continue, offices at divisional headquarters across seven divisions would also lose air conditioning.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from senior PR officials, who called it harsh and unfair. “Delays are part of service. If mistakes were made, there should be an inquiry—not collective punishment,” one official said.
Abbasi, defending his stance, said he skipped Eid holidays with his family to visit Okara and Khanewal. During his visit, passengers complained about non-working ACs, prompting immediate action. He also addressed local demands by requesting the passport department to open an office in Okara.
The minister added that Rs. 26 billion has been allocated under the PSDP to support ongoing railway projects, though he called the amount insufficient.
good ,, buhat acha kiya bulka in ka ghar ka ac b utar dai