Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has ordered all air conditioners at the Pakistan Railways Headquarters to be turned off — including the one in the CEO’s office. This move is part of his protest against delays in installing AC units on passenger trains.
Around 70 AC units have been switched off at the HQ, a decision that has upset many senior railway officials. They called it unfair, but Abbasi defended his actions, saying passengers have been complaining and that the planning team failed to deliver. Out of 100 new AC units meant for trains, only 4 were delivered on time.
The minister said that if the situation doesn’t improve, he might take similar steps at divisional headquarters as well. His aim, he said, is to push the department into taking its responsibilities seriously.
Despite Rs26 billion being set aside for Pakistan Railways in the 2025 federal budget, Abbasi said he’s still not happy with how things are progressing. He wants better planning and faster execution of passenger-related projects.
Abbasi also said he will continue to stand for passengers’ rights and will personally oversee reforms in the department. He stressed that comfort on trains should be the top priority and that officials sitting in AC offices while passengers suffer is not acceptable.
This unusual step by the minister has brought attention to the issues within the railway system and has sent a clear message to the management: passenger welfare must come first.
