LAHORE: Hours-long delay in the departure of the passenger train between Lahore and Narowal continues to irk passengers as Pakistan Railways seems unable to resolve the issue, while the Railway Prem Union has urged the Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi to take notice and order the authorities to resolve the issue on an urgent basis.

“A number of passengers travel by this train on a daily basis. When they reach the Lahore station, they often come to know about the delay of three to four hours in the departure of the train from Lahore. This results in late arrival of the train at Narowal and delay in the departure from there for Lahore,” complained Chaudhry Farhan Shaukat, a passenger while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

“On Saturday, the train departed five hours late from its actual departure time of 7:15am,” he added.

He said that after departing late from the Lahore station, the train faces further delays in departure from Shahdra where a number of passengers sit on roofs of the coaches due to non-availability of seats. “We just want timely departure from Lahore and nothing more,” he said, requesting the minister for railways to take notice of the situation.

Shortage of coaches cited as a reason for delayed departure

Meanwhile, Railways Prem Union President Sheikh Muhammad Anwar also criticised the concerned railway officials for not paying any attention to this issue.

“Passengers come at the station on time and spend hours in hot and humid weather on the platform due to delays in its departure for hours,” he said.

When contacted, Lahore Deputy Divisional Superintendent Ms Fatima Bilal said the department was facing a shortage of coaches for various trains, including the Narowal passenger train.

“The actual composition of the train consists of eight coaches but we have only five. So, when the train is ready for departure, the passengers who did not have seats climb and sit on the coaches’ roof. This leads to the station staff and police to attempt to force these passengers down from the roof. This causes delay in departure,” she said.

The officers had been trying hard to ensure the train’s departure on time and, hopefully, the issue would be resolved soon with the provision of three coaches, she added.

LESCO: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Muhammad Ramzan Butt has underscored the company’s commitment to safety, describing the organisation as an entity where safety is viewed as a paramount responsibility.

While speaking to Lesco officers on Saturday, he said that safety of the line staff and the public was not only a professional obligation but also a moral and religious duty.

The CEO stressed the vital importance of adhering to safety protocols, asserting that it was crucial for every employee to thoroughly understand these principles and actively implement them. He encouraged the line staff to adopt a proactive approach for enhancing safety standards.

Mr Ramzan highlighted the responsibility of officers to ensure the safety of all employees and their assets. He reaffirmed that the line staff were the backbone of Lesco, and the company would continue to take all necessary measures to ensure their safety.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2025