An acute shortage of rail engines has forced the authorities to stop running trains on dozens of routes, the Nation said Monday.

Rail workshops were unable to repair faulty engines due to lack of spare parts and equipment and funds to buy them.

The daily moaned: "Pakistan Railways, once a profit-earning unit, has gone to the dogs."
Federal Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour had decided to hire 50 engines from India, which is ready for the transaction.

"It is a pity that Railways have reached a stage where it has to hire engines from India rather than buying new ones," the daily added.

It said corruption and pilferage needed to end for the railways to get back on the track.