PESHAWAR, Dec 28: Pakistan Railways will extend its network to the southern districts of the NWFP, it was decided at a meeting here on Tuesday.

Provincial Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah presided over the meeting which was attended among others by Federal Railways Minister Mian Shamim Haider and representatives of the district governments of Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan and Bannu and the political agent of Khyber Agency.

According to a handout issued after the meeting, the Pakistan Railways is willing to develop Bannu as a hub of economic activities and the town will be linked with Kundian and Peshawar for the purpose.

Feasibility studies in this respect are under process. The project is expected to generate economic activities in the province and promote exports through land route across the border.

The meeting agreed to look into the possibility of developing rail link between Peshawar City and Hayatabad. The Pakistan Railways has already decided to build dual carriageway between the City and Cantonment stations in Peshawar. The railway authorities also agreed to consider the idea of developing a dry port in Peshawar.

The PR officials assured the meeting of a smooth running of Safari Rail between Peshawar and Landi Kotal, the handout said. The governor assured the railway authorities that encroachments would be removed from their lands. Mr Haider said that the Pakistan Railways was making efforts to reclaim its lands for their proper utilization.