Islamabad, Sep 26 (IANS): It is a pity the country's railways have reached a stage where they have to hire engines from India rather than buying new ones, said a Pakistani daily.

An editorial in The Nation Monday said: "Pakistan Railways, once a profit-earning unit, has gone to the dogs."

The daily said an acute shortage of rail engines has "compelled the authorities to stop running trains on dozens of routes. Its workshops are unable to repair the faulty engines due to lack of spare parts and equipment and funds to buy them".

The editorial said Federal Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has decided to hire 50 engines from India which has already expressed its willingness to meet the requirement.

"It is a pity that Railways have reached a stage where it has to hire engines from India rather than buying new ones," it added.

It went on to say that "there is something terribly wrong somewhere. There are multiple reasons for Railways to reach this stage and rampant corruption is on the top. Incidents of pilferage from its godowns...."

"Corruption and pilferage must stop for the Railways to get back on the track."