LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday was informed that losses of thePakistan Railways stand at Rs40 billion.
The case was being heard by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian SaqibNisar at the SC Lahore Registry.
The figure was quoted by an audit officer who also presented thedepartment’s forensic audit report to the SC.
The railway administration subsequently issued a notice by the SC regardingthe forensic audit report.
Moreover, the audit officer also told the SC that only 50 railway stationshad been computerised out of 500 in the country.
The officer alleged that the department was incurring so many lossesbecause Railway officials were irresponsible.
The forensic audit report also revealed that 70 per cent of thedepartment’s revenues goes towards pensions of retired officers.
Earlier on April 14, the CJP had ordered a five-year audit of PakistanRailways by AF Ferguson & Co, besides seeking a report on the lossesincurred by the department within six weeks.
Hearing the suo motu notice case about alleged losses in the railwaydepartment, the two-member bench comprising the CJP and Justice Umar AtaBandial had summoned then Railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, who hadappeared before the court.
Addressing the court, Rafique had said that the apex court should order anaudit of the department for the last 10 years as proof of improvement inthe railway’s performance.