LAHORE, Dec 2: The Pakistan Railways and a private company will be signing on Dec 6 an agreement to operate third passenger train between Punjab and Sindh capitals as a joint venture under public-private partnership.

Comprising AC sleeper, lower AC and economy classes, the 14-coach train would be leaving Lahore and Karachi in the evening through Faisalabad and Multan, said an official on Sunday.

“The railways intend to enter into an agreement with M/s Air Rail Services, under which the PR would provide coaches, locomotives and staff -- drivers, firemen and conductor guards besides PR police personnel – to the private company which would be looking after tickets reservation and checking of the new train.

The company would be responsible for the provision of facilities to passengers on board the train. It would develop its infrastructure on the PR network exclusively for the passengers of the new train, said the official.

M/s Air Rail Services Managing Director Rana Rafaqat said that his company would pay Rs530 million annually or Rs1.705 million daily to railways for the new train. In addition, the company would give Rs100 million to the railways for repair and rehabilitation of locomotives while during the next five years it would spend Rs88.5 million for the provision of facilities to commuters.