LAHORE, Oct 2: The Pakistan Railways will lay an alternative 300-km track between Karachi and Kotri to keep the southern port city connected with the rest of the country through rail link even in case of incidents like the washing away of Ran Pathani bridge.
“The suspension of rail traffic caused a loss of Rs350 million and we have learnt a lesson from it,” Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said at a press conference held at the PR headquarters here on Monday.
He said that a task force comprising officials of the Pakistan Railways, NLC and FWO had been set up to study railways network and suggest measures to ensure that rail link between different parts of the country was not affected in case of incidents like that of the Ran Pathani bridge collapse. However, the railways would cover the loss by further improving its service and by running more trains.
All stops of trains made under political consideration would be eliminated after Eidul Fitr, he said and added: “Trains will be stopping only at stations where passengers and freight will be available.”
“Politicians are already not happy with me,” he said when asked the decision might annoy some politicians. A decision had also been taken to end three stops of Tezgam with immediate effect.
The minister said that Indian authorities would decide when to resume rail traffic on the Monabao and Khokhrapar sector and there was no hurdle in this regard on the part of the Pakistan Railways. “At present, the track is lying unutilised. We are ready to resume the operation of the Thar Express any time,” he added.
