SIALKOT, Sept 06: People will not benefit from the Sialkot Express due to unsuitable timings. According to the timing announced by the Pakistan Railways, the train would leave Lahore for Narowal at 3am daily. It would leave Narowal for Sialkot at 5am, and for Rawalpindi at 7am.

The train will leave Rawalpindi for Sialkot at 4:30pm daily.

The business community of the city expressed grave concern over the timings. They said the train timings were such that it would be of no use to them.

When contacted, railway officials said the PR was fully aware of the ‘odd’ timings of the train from Sialkot to Lahore. They said the timings would also cause heavy loss to the organisation as less number of people would travel on it.

They said winter season was about to start and less people journey through trains in winter seasons as compared to summer.

They said they would be able to reconsider timings at the end of September or October.

Meanwhile, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad on Wednesday inaugurated the extended route of Sialkot Express.

State Minister Ali Asjad Malhi, Industries Minister Ajmal Cheema, chief minister’s task force chairman Mian Riaz, Sialkot district nazim Akmal Cheema, naib nazim Rana Ejaz, MPA Mumtaz Ali and railways high ranking officials were also present on the occasion.

Officials said the 171-up/172-down train had been operating between Sialkot and Rawalpindi via Wazirabad, Lala Musa, Jhelum and Mandra. Now it would come to Lahore via Narowal, Baddomalhi, Narang and Shahdara.