Aam Olas Ep 58

In Aam Olas Ep 58 (Part 1), Yousaf Jan Utmanzai travels to the Khyber region to investigate a piece of infrastructure that tells a powerful story, not of progress, but of neglect.

This is the story of a railway line built more than a century ago, once designed to connect communities and trade routes, now left abandoned despite its enormous potential.

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A Railway Built to Last, But Left Behind

The railway track explored in this episode was constructed over 100 years ago, during the era of the British government.
Its survival for a century is evidence of the quality and engineering standards of that time.

Yet today, the line stands unused.

In 2006, a powerful flash flood destroyed a critical railway bridge, cutting the route completely. Since then—over 16 years—successive governments have completed their terms without restoring the line.

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Why This Railway Still Matters

This railway route once extended from Jamrud toward the Torkham Border, a gateway of regional trade.

If restored, it could:

• Enable large-scale cross-border commerce
• Reduce transport costs for goods
• Create jobs in the region
• Strengthen Pakistan’s economic connectivity

Instead, the route remains silent.

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Eight Stations, Zero Investment

According to information shared during the visit:

• The first station in Jamrud was built in 1922
• There are eight stations along this route
• All are abandoned

When Yousaf Jan Utmanzai questioned railway staff about maintenance and funding, the response was clear:

• No funds have been allocated
• No repair plans exist
• The route is not a priority

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A Department Shrinking With the Tracks

The human cost of neglect is also visible.

A railway employee explained:

• The route once had over 100 employees
• Today, only around 30 remain
• With no trains and no repairs, jobs continue to disappear

Infrastructure decay does not happen alone—it takes livelihoods with it.

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A Question of Equality and Priority

This episode raises a difficult but important question:

If this railway served another region, would it still be abandoned?

The railway lies in a Pashtun region, and locals feel that development here is often delayed or ignored. This is not about blame—it is about balanced development and equal opportunity.

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From Strategic Asset to Forgotten Track

Once envisioned as a strategic economic corridor, the line has become what locals now call the “Ghost Railway Track.”

Not because it lacks value—but because it lacks attention.

Aam Olas does not present this as a political argument.
It presents it as a developmental reality that deserves urgent reconsideration.

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Final Reflection: Infrastructure Is Destiny

Railways shape economies.
Neglect shapes poverty.

Aam Olas Episode 58 (Part 1) asks policymakers and institutions to look again—not at ruins, but at potential.

Restoring this track is not about the past.
It is about future opportunity for communities that have waited far too long.

If you have thoughts, suggestions, or insights, share them respectfully in the comments.
Dialogue is the first step toward development.

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Disclaimer

This article is published for public awareness and informational purposes only. Historical references and statements are based on field reporting and interviews. It does not make political endorsements or allegations.