ANP Condemns Harnai Railway Closure, Demands Immediate Restoration
Quetta (Qudrat Daily) – Awami National Party provincial spokesperson Wali Dad Miani has expressed strong concern over the closure of the railway service in Harnai, calling it a highly detrimental move for the local population and warning that it will further push the district into underdevelopment.
In his statement, he said billions of rupees of public funds had been invested in building and repairing railway tracks, stations, and other infrastructure projects. Substantial development funds were also spent through the NLC. However, the government now claims that the Harnai section is running at a loss and coal transport is being suspended, a stance he described as unacceptable.
Wali Dad Miani pointed out that approximately 200 trucks of coal are loaded daily from Harnai, indicating that resources and revenue exist. If corruption exists among railway officials, fuel is being sold in markets, or financial irregularities persist, it is unfair to burden the public. Shutting the route instead of ensuring transparency, he said, is like treating the people of Harnai as stepchildren.
He added that running the train for ten days as a token gesture and then closing it again only provides justification for corruption. The construction and closure issues of the Harnai-Quetta and Harnai-Sanjawi roads have already caused severe hardships, and the railway suspension has worsened the situation.
The spokesperson further stated that billions of rupees in taxes are collected from Harnai, yet negligible funds are spent on the district’s development or public welfare. Unfortunately, corruption remains rampant, with commissions and malpractices in various departments reaching alarming levels.
Awami National Party strongly condemned the provincial and federal governments’ stance and demanded the immediate restoration of the Harnai to Sibi railway section, transparent investigations into corruption, and that the people of Harnai receive their rightful entitlements.
