Ali Akbar is visibly happy these days. He has an air of expectation hanging over him. And why not; for the first time in many decades, this primary school teacher, in the desert region of Thar, is harbouring hope that the border crossing with India will finally reopen and the train service from Khokhrapar to Munabao will allow him to meet his relatives across the border.
“I will put just Rs500 in my pocket and cross into India to visit my close relatives and cousins in Rajhistan,” Akbar said, sounding as if he already has the ticket and the visa to do the needful. However, his remark, that Rs500 would be sufficient for him to travel from Khokhrapar to Munabao, is reflective of the fact how less expensive the journey to India from this route would be, as compared to Wagah, Lahore.
“Why tomorrow; the border should be opened right now without any delay,” beamed Akbar. But he isn’t the only one. In fact, there are countless others who are awaiting the much promised opening of this section of the border. And their hopes were further raised when recently, the Governor and Chief Minister of Sindh, paid a high-profile visit to the Khokhrapar railway station. Akbar, along with many of the hopeful residents, were there as well.
Governor Ishratul Ibad and CM Dr Arbab Rahim were there to see for themselves the condition of the railway tracks and roads passing through the area. This was soon after the Indian Foreign Minister, Natwar Singh had expressed readiness on part of India, to re-open the border in Sindh by October 2005. They were briefed about the money that will be needed to upgrade the railway tracks and the 40-kilometre piece of road that connects Jaloo Jo Chaunro (Umerkot district) with Munabao (India) railway station.
The relief on the faces of the locals, following the Indian FM’s announcement, was obvious. Presently, if they want to visit their near and dear ones across the border, they have to go to Islamabad for the visa, then travel back home, pack the bags and then go to Lahore, cross the border to New Delhi and then travel to Rajhistan to their relative’s place.
The people of the area share the same cultural bonds with a slight change of dialect. “My own community fellows are living there (India) and reopening of the border will benefit and facilitate people of our province, especially of Tharparkar to a great extent,” declared Sindh CM, Arbab Rahim, during his visit, who too could not hide his excitement about the expected reopening of the border.
A local zamindar, Haji Mohammad Malhar too is looking forward to the reopening. “If I have to go to Rajhistan, I have to go to Lahore, proceed to New Delhi, then to Jodhpur before reaching my home in Barmer, which is just a few kilometres away from here.
“It costs me thousands of rupees, unnecessarily and I do not see any reason why this border has been kept closed for so long when its re-opening can also give a boost to the local economy, especially Tharparkar, as people would get opportunities of employment, trade and business,” he contends.
The Sindh border has been lying closed since 1965 when hostilities broke out between the two countries.
With the reopening of the border, those living in other parts of Sindh, including Karachi, will be able to avail the cut in travel time and the expenses involved. At the moment though, the crossing at the Wagah is the only available solution. The more affluent, of course, opt for the air route.
According to the railway records, the last train from India arrived in Khokhrapar on September 5, 1965, that was before India and Pakistan severed diplomatic relations. India’s Munabao railway station is located just 10 kilometres away from the Khokhrapar railway station. The distance between Mirpurkhas-Khokhrapar single-line track is said to be 128 kilometres. On either side of the border, a section, worth 24 feet in length, is missing. This section needs to be repaired as well.
“Currently the train (Mirpurkhas-Khokhrapar) plies once a week, on Monday. It leaves Mirpurkhas at 3pm and reaches Khokhrapar at 9.50pm, at a speed of around 25 kilometres per hour. At various stops, this is reduced to 15 kilometres because of the weak condition of the track. The actual speed on the track is 55 kilometres per hour,” says loco-foreman, Abid Ali. “The entire rail track is quite weak,” he argues and says that liquid furnace oil is being used for the train, costing Rs85000 while diesel would cost only Rs37,000 for one trip from Mirpurkhas to Khokhrapar and back to Mirpurkhas.
Currently, the railways ministry is examining three options for the revival of the whole setup. First, revival of the existing meter gauge; second, conversion of the meter gauge into a broad gauge rail track, and thirdly, laying of a new broad gauge.
For the existing meter gauge’s revival, an amount of Rs621 million will have to be spent for changing the outdated sleepers of the track and its overall repair. However, if the laying of the new broad gauge track is undertaken, Rs2 billion would have to be spent and it would take 24 months to do so. In fact, this is exactly the step that they will be taking.
According to press reports, the Federal Railways Minister, Mian Shamim Hyder has disclosed that Prime Minister has approved the laying of a new railway track from Mirpurkhas to Munabao. A similar decision regarding the construction of a road is awaited.
The metalled road ends at Jaloo Jo Chaunro and this is where the desert part of the journey beings, making driving on four wheelers essential for moved. The highway’s department has estimated that the 35-kilometre road from Jaloo Jo Chauhro up to the Munabao border will Rs345 million to make. Its construction would facilitate the running of a bus service on the lines of the Lahore-New Delhi service.
It can be said with some degree of authority that besides strengthening social and cultural ties between the people of the two countries, the reopening of the border would certainly lead to an economic boom in Tharparkar that is yet to receive fruits of economic policies of present government. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, soon after being elected to the National Assembly from Tharparkar last year, had announced a Rs12 billion development package for the area which awaits execution. There is also a potential for the development of the area as a tourist spot, as the natural beauty of the area has the potential to captivate people, especially after the rains.
Ali Akbar is visibly happy these days. He has an air of expectation hanging over him. And why not; for the first time in many decades, this primary school teacher, in the desert region of Thar, is harbouring hope that the border crossing with India will finally reopen and the train service from Khokhrapar to Munabao will allow him to meet his relatives across the border.
