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LAHORE, Dec 9: The rail link between Pakistan and India is likely to be revived on Jan 1, exactly two years after New Delhi snapped it, and the two countries are expected to ink an agreement for the revival of Samjhota Express on Dec 18.
The agreement is said to have been drafted and exchanged and will come under discussion for finalization of certain technical details when a four-member Pakistan Railways delegation holds talks with its Indian counterparts on Dec 17 and 18 at the Northern Railways headquarters in New Delhi.
The two countries have already decided to restore the air link and the bus service.
The Pakistan Railways delegation, headed by Additional General Manager Mohammad Iqbal Khatri, is scheduled to leave for India by road on Dec 15. It will reach Wagah to cross into India and then travel by car to Amritsar from where it will be taken to New Delhi by train.
Mr Khatri told Dawn that his delegation would discuss only the restoration of the Samjhota Express in its meeting with officials of the Northern Railways. He said technical details like the number of coaches, train timings, the number of staff to be employed, fare from Lahore to Delhi and frequency of the operation of trains would figure in the discussion.
Two trains used to operate twice a week when the rail traffic between the two countries was suspended on Dec 31, 2001. Under the previous agreement, each train used to have 12 coaches with a three-member technical staff. The same agreement provided for an operational arrangement under which Pakistani train used to cross into India for six months and the Indian train reached Lahore for the other half year. Each train usually hauled more than 1,200 passengers.
The Pakistani side does not expect many changes in the previous arrangement. However, strict security arrangements would be made on the train. Besides, talks may suggest more coaches and a higher fare between Lahore and Delhi. The old rail fare between the two cities was Rs150 while Rs15 was charged for travel between Lahore and Atari.
FREIGHT: The resumption of Samjhota Express will not, however, automatically revive freight traffic between the two countries as separate discussions are expected for the purpose. The Pakistan Railways expects talks on exchange of goods trains between India and Pakistan shortly after the restoration of passenger travel facility.
A senior PR officer told Dawn on Monday that the Indian government appeared to be keen on reviving freight traffic because it was eying goods transportation to Iran and Turkey and Europe via Pakistan. India also wanted transit trade facilities for Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics for which it wanted its goods to be transported up to Chaman and Peshawar from where its cargo would be carried by trucks to Afghanistan and beyond.
The Pakistan Railways, according to the officer, would vastly benefit from the transit trade. The PR, he said, was preparing to enhance goods’ handling facilities in Lahore through construction of more godowns and sheds, extension of loading and unloading lines, allocation of a new customs office and identification of entry points in Lahore. The present facilities needed much refurbishment.
The annual trade between the two countries ranged from Rs10 to 12 million by train before Jan 2002. Major commodities exported from Pakistan were salt and dates while the imports from India included spices, soybeans, ginger, herbal medicine, bamboo and later sugar.
