Senate panel seeks report on curbs over use of railway premises by influencers

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Railways has asked the railways ministry to submit a report on a government public notice that seeks to limit the use of Pakistan Railways premises for advertising, filming and photography by social media influencers, bloggers and members of the public.

The committee took up the matter during a meeting held on Monday, where members examined the notice and raised concerns over its implications.

According to the proceedings, the panel observed that the public notice issued by the government was in breach of the right to information and access, which it said is a fundamental right protected under the Constitution.

The committee’s discussion focused on the restrictions placed on the use of railway property for visual content and promotional activity, including filming and photographing by influencers and bloggers. It subsequently sought a formal report from the ministry on the matter.

Projects also reviewed

During the same meeting, the standing committee also reviewed progress on the ML-I project as well as the implementation of the Railways Advanced Infrastructure Network (RAIN) and WIM.

In its deliberations on these projects, the panel stressed the need for complete transparency in project financing and in coordination with international financial institutions.

The committee recommended that the ministry provide a detailed briefing on these matters at its next meeting.

The ML-I project and the implementation of RAIN and WIM were discussed as part of the committee’s broader oversight of railway infrastructure and development planning.

Members underscored that transparency in funding arrangements remained essential, particularly where engagement with international financial institutions was involved.

The committee did not stop at seeking clarification on the public notice alone, but also linked its wider review to the ministry’s handling of major rail sector initiatives. It asked that the next meeting include a fuller briefing from the ministry so that lawmakers could examine both the restrictions on access to railway premises and the status of ongoing infrastructure plans in greater detail.

Monday’s meeting therefore covered both governance and development issues, with the panel questioning the legal and constitutional implications of the public notice while also pressing for greater clarity on key railway modernisation projects.