PESHAWAR, March 31: The Pakistan Railways has decided to take Peshawar off Abasin Express’s route, to allow it to run between Rawalpindi and Quetta. This is the only train linking the Frontier province with Balochistan.

Highly-placed sources in Divisional Superintendent Office of Pakistan Railways told this correspondent that the decision to eliminate Peshawar from Abasin Express (17 up/18 down) will take effect from April 15 in the summer timetable.

“As a result of this curtailment, the people of Frontier province would be deprived of a direct link with their kith and kin living in Balochistan,” a resident said.

The Peshawar passengers wanting to go to Balochistan would have to travel first to Rawalpindi for catching the Abasin Express. This would not only add to the journey expenditure of the passengers, but would also result in wastage of time.

According to one year’s statistics, the utilization of Abasin Express from Peshawar has not been less than 80 per cent, which is ample justification for its continuity.

In March 2001, hundred per cent tickets of first-class sleepers were sold from Peshawar. The percentage of those of economy-class berths and seats stood at 79 and 47 respectively.

A sample of as recent a month as February 2002, shows that first-class sleeper utilization stood at 90 per cent, while that of economy-class berths and seats at 43 and 17 per cent respectively.

The sources said that most of the long-distance passengers wanted to get the berth ticket as travelling up to Balochistan on seats was cheap, but uncomfortable.

The local passengers at Cantt railway station here, while criticising the decision, have demanded its review.

It may be mentioned that in March 2000, the Tezro/Zulfiqar Express, running between Peshawar and Karachi, had its route curtailed, and allowed to run between Rawalpindi and Karachi.

It was followed by another step in October 2000, as the jurisdiction of Peshawar division was restricted to main line only — Peshawar to Attock city and Attock city to Kundian. But the Kundian yard and station was withdrawn from Peshawar division and given to Rawalpindi division.

From these decisions, the road handlers have taken advantage, with road transport from Peshawar to Karachi and onwards to Quetta having developed as a consequence.