LAHORE, Jan 3: Five more passenger trains started operating to and from Karachi on Thursday, another four will be running from Friday while two more from Saturday.

A Pakistan Railway official said that on Thursday, Qalandar Express left Larkana at 7:30am for Karachi and left Dadu for Larkana according to its schedule, Khushhal Khan Khattak Express started operating from Peshawar to Dadu, Hazara Express left Rawalpindi at 5.45pm for Karachi while Sukkur Express left Karachi for Jacobabad through Sukkur and Rohri.

From Jan 4, Hazara Express will start operating from Havelian and Karachi, Sukkur Express will leave Jacobabad at 7pm for Karachi, Fareed Express will run between Karachi and Lahore through Pakpattan according to its schedule time while Pakistan Express will leave Rawalpindi at 8.30am for Karachi through Faisalabad.

From Jan 5, Hazara Express will leave Karachi at 6.15am for Havelian and Pakistan Express between Karachi and Rawalpindi.

At present, 36 freight trains are being operated on up and 29 on down track to transport oil, containers, coal in addition to goods for Afghanistan.

Karakuram Express was the first train that left Lahore for Karachi on Jan 1 when rail service to the Sindh capital was partially restored five days after rioters torched trains and uprooted tracks following the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

Khyber Mail reached Lahore at around 6:15pm on Jan 1 and left for Karachi after half an hour. The two trains were also operated from Karachi to Lahore and Peshawar. From Jan 2, Tezgam and Super Express started operating according to their schedule timings. —Staff Reporter