Pakistan rail safety under scrutiny after string of derailments

The Mulatan accident adds to a series of derailments that have plagued Pakistan Railways over the past year. In early October, two passenger services – the Shalimar Express and the Pakistan Express – left the rails but avoided major casualties. A separate incident near Gujjar Khan involved the Jafar Express, while a coal‑laden train collided with a sand heap on a loop line near Firdaus Railway Station in August. Additional derailments have been reported in July and August, including the Hazara Express and the Raval Express, all of which point to chronic maintenance lapses and insufficient oversight. Railway chief Hafizullah previously warned that the spate of accidents resulted from years of inadequate supervision and aging infrastructure.