In a troubling development, Pakistan has reportedly imported non-functional railway bogies worth USD 149 million from China, triggering outrage within Pakistan Railways and raising serious concerns over the quality of Chinese imports. According to The Express Tribune, officials within Pakistan Railways have expressed discontent, questioning the competence and effectiveness of the inspection team sent to China to oversee the procurement.
The imported bogies, which were expected to enhance Pakistan’s aging railway infrastructure, have instead become a symbol of mismanagement and poor oversight. The discovery has not only caused financial losses but also delayed critical upgrades to the national transport system.
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This controversy surfaces as tensions grow over several aspects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar initiative touted as a game changer for Pakistan’s economy. However, recent reports suggest the project is facing numerous setbacks. As per Business Recorder, many Chinese companies operating under the CPEC framework have adopted a “go-slow” strategy in response to Pakistan’s volatile exchange rate and regulatory challenges, particularly with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
The faulty railway bogies have further strained public perception of Chinese investments in the country, with critics arguing that Pakistan must adopt stricter quality control measures and ensure greater accountability in bilateral deals. The incident has sparked calls for an internal inquiry and a reassessment of ongoing and future procurement agreements under the CPEC umbrella.
With growing skepticism over the reliability of Chinese infrastructure supplies and increasing frustration among stakeholders, the future of key CPEC projects hangs in the balance.
