KARACHI, Feb 25: Amid tight security, the first train of Thar Express after the Samjotha Express tragedy travelled to Zero Point (Pak-India border) from Karachi and arrived back in the city on Sunday.

In the backdrop of the Samjotha Express tragedy, the security of Thar Express was assigned to the Pakistan Ranger (Sindh) and the train completed its first journey peacefully.

A spokesman for the rangers said that the travel from Karachi to Zero point was about 500 kilometers and it took 11 hours as compared to the 45-kilometer/45 minutes from Wahgah to Lahore.

To ensure the security of the train through 500-kilometer desert with the security at four railway stations -- Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Zero Point -- was a cumbersome task but the rangers (Sindh) accepted the challenge and ensured safe journey of the passenger, he added.

He said that besides ensuring security, the rangers also provided all possible facilities to the passengers.

He said that the rangers were forwarding recommendations to the Pakistan Railway through the minister of interior regarding the security and after approval action would be taken accordingly. — Online