Title - Pakistan : Railways employees' strike continues

LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways Loco Shed employees strike continued for the 15th day on Sunday, as they did not allow any locomotive to move from the shed.Union leader Sarfaraz Khan said that their strike would continue until May 29 after which they could opt for a wheel-jam strike.The employees have been demanding increase in technical allowance, pay scale upgrade and double wages for working holidays. Railways employees have started protest demonstrations and disrupted trains in various cities over unpaid salaries and electricity cut off of railway colonies on Monday.Frustrated and agitated employees did not allow any railway engines to come out of the engine shed by lying down in front of them. This resulted in the stoppage of the Iqbal Express, Awam Express, Tezgam and several other trains. The railway employees accused the government of neglecting the rail service and condemned the cut off of electricity of railway colonies, adding that "the employees could not call off the strike on mere on false promises".The cash-strapped Pakistan Railways has increased passenger trains fares by 15 to 20 percent with effect from Thursday to overcome its financial crisis and a notification in this regard was issued on Monday. The notification said that (a) passenger train fares have been increased by 15 percent (b) all intercity; Mail Express and non-stop trains' fares have been increased for all classes by 20 percent. All fuel charges have been merged in basic fares of all trains and classes before this increase, the notification added.Sources in the Railways Headquarters said that that PR had moved a summary about a week ago to raise the fares of freight and passenger trains by 25 percent; however, the government has permitted only 15 to 20 percent increase. There is no change in the present freight charges. The Pakistan Railways has decided to introduce new system for its pensioners, a spokesman of Pakistan Railways, Saeed Akhtar, said on Sunday.