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Pak overloading on Samjhauta Express

          Lahore: The Pakistan Railways officials are allowing overloading in the twice-weekly Samjhauta Express train, running between Delhi and Lahore. According to Muhammad Khalid, the PR Divisional superintendent (DS) of Lahore, officials at the Lahore Railway Station have been ignoring repeated instructions against overloading. The Daily Times quoted Khalid as saying, that he had asked officials to check the weight of the passengers' luggage properly, but some corrupt officials allowed many passengers to carry luggage more than the prescribed 35 kilogrammes. "In future, I will monitor the matter personally," he added. After February 18 blasts in the trans-border train, the railways authorities of India and Pakistan decided to restrict the luggage weight for every passenger to 35 kilograms. But instead of implementing it properly, officials ask for bribe in some cases if the luggage is more than 35 kg. Most passengers travelling in the train are traders and carry their goods with them. Therefore, it was difficult to bar them from not carrying luggage beyond the prescribed weight, reports the paper. A passenger was quoted as saying, that he visited Pakistan three to four times a month and took back various goods from Pakistan, which he sold in India. He said he bribed the railways staff in every trip since he carried overweight luggage.
- June 11,  2007