KOHAT, Nov 19: The rail service between Kohat and Rawalpindi could not be restored after its ‘temporary suspension’ a month ago due to shortage of diesel.

The suspension of train service has deprived the people of Kohat, especially families, of the affordable and comfortable travel facility.

The service was stopped a month ago for the third time during past few years though at the time of its suspension the railway management had promised that the train service would be resumed after a few weeks.

People of Kohat have criticised the Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafiq, saying that on the one hand he was planning to launch new services in the country, on the other closing down already available railcar facility for areas such as Kohat, which benefited the whole southern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They also criticised MNA Shehryar Afridi for not pursuing the matter of early restoration of the service to facilitate the people of this region.

The matter is of great concern for the people because local transporters, who are earning millions on this route, have always played a role in stopping the railcar service from Kohat.

The train service had already been completely stopped on Kohat-Hangu and Thall routes 15 years back. That too was done due to conspiracies of the local transporters.

Presently, the British era railway station in Kohat gives a deserted look while the telephone of railway police has been cut off due to non-payment. As such, one could not inform the police about any incident in case of emergency.

An official said that the sleeper factory which provided jobs to hundreds of people was also closed down, rendering the workers unemployed due to lack of planning. He said that in other countries the railway service had been expanding, but in Pakistan it was unfortunately shrinking and the government had no long-term policy to revive this affordable facility keeping in view the needs of growing population.

The people of Kohat have demanded of the minister concerned and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to order early resumption of the train service between Kohat and Rawalpindi.