LARKANA, June 1: Federal Railways Minister Ghaus Bakhsh Mahar has said his ministry will resume the Samjhota Express service once a positive signal from India is received.

He told reporters at the Larkana Cadet College on Sunday that the train service to India would be restored on a 24-hour notice.

When asked about the possibility of opening the Khokhrapar route for the Pakistan-India railway service, the minister said the railway track on this route had been damaged beyond repair.

Answering a question regarding concession in railway fare for journalists, Mr Mahar said he had already ordered the relevant authorities to restore the facility for journalists. However, the minister said if journalists were refused concession in fare they should inform him in writing so that action could be taken against the officials concerned. He gave an assurance that more facilities would be provided to journalists soon.

Mr Mahar said an air-conditioned train on the route from Jacobabad, Shikarpur, and Larkana to Karachi would soon be started.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Sindh, president termed the ongoing tussle in the party’s provincial chapter a routine matter, and said he had suspended the membership of some party members who were engaged in negative politics. He said the membership of Maqbool Shaikh, chief organizer of the Sindh PML-Q, would remain suspended till he provided a written explanation.