ISLAMABAD: Special attention will be given to the development of Pakistan Railways as it is the mode of transportation of the common man, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday.

He was speaking at a ceremony held in connection with the inauguration of the Mianwali Rail Car at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. The event was attended by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Aftab Akbar, Railway Board Secretary Farrukh Taimur Ghilzai, Director General Technical Munawar Shah and DG Operations Maryam Gillani.

The premier said the railways minister thinks about the common man and that there is need for improvements in the rail service so people can get better and safer travelling facilities.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Pakistan Railways is going to increase its freight trains in the first 100 days of the new government and that Railways is also working on the Quetta-Taftan section.

The minister invited the prime minister to inaugurate the railway station at Gwadar.

On the directions of the prime minister, Sheikh Rashid announced tickets will be free for citizens aged over 75 years and that a 50pc concession will be given to blind people. He added that two trains will be started in Sindh till mid-October.

The minister expressed interest in starting the Rehman Baba train and asked the prime minister for directions in changing the grade of Pakistan Railways labourers.

The Mianwali Rail Car consists of seven passenger coaches which have been made in the Islamabad Carriage Factory in record time and cost Rs8.5 million.

Fare for the Mianwali trains has been fixed at Rs260 per passenger from Rawalpindi to Mianwali and Rs320 per person from Rawalpindi to Kundian. A 50pc discount was announced for the first day.

Pakistan Railways will be starting the Rawalpindi Express on Sept 15 which will simultaneously leave Rawalpindi and Lahore at 8pm and will provide swift service. The coaches have also been upgraded.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018