RAWALPINDI: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday restored the rail car services to Kohat and Lahore which were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Kohat rail car, comprising nine coaches, has a capacity of 850 passengers while the fare from Rawalpindi to Kohat would be Rs230.

The train would complete its journey from Rawalpindi to Kohat within three and a half hours. The train will stop at Golra Sharif, Tarnol, Fatehjang, Basal Sharif, Basal Domail, Jund and Babri Banda. Similarly, the Lahore train will be able to carry 690 passengers with stoppages at Chaklala, Gujar Khan, Jhelum, Lala Musa, Gujrat, Wazirabad and Gujranwala.

Pakistan Railways relaunched the services after finalising arrangements to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced by the government to control the spread of Covid-19.

Talking to media persons at the Rawalpindi Railway Station, Sheikh Rashid said Prime Minister Imran Khan had chaired a meeting about Leh Expressway project.

Leh Expressway and the Main Line-1 (ML-1) projects were signed nearly 16 years ago but could not be materialised. The government would complete both the projects, he said.

In reply to a question, the minister said public meetings of the opposition parties cannot derail the government.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk with the opposition parties on all issues except corruption cases and NRO.

He said the government would complete its constitutional term of five years.

To another question, the minister said the government was striving to enforce law and protect the public from Covid-19.

He advised the opposition parties to enter into dialogue with the government to steer the country out of the political impasse.

It is in the interest of the opposition parties to hold dialogue with the government, he added.

Politicians never close doors for dialogue irrespective of what they utter in the public.

To another question, he said Bilawal Bhutto got infected with coronavirus during the opposition’s public gathering held in Peshawar.

He said former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had talked about dialogue and the process should be initiated.

He said prices of daily-use items, including flour and sugar, had started falling which would come down further as the government had taken solid steps.

The government is well aware of the current security situation in the region, he said, rejecting any possibility of recognising Israel.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020