MIANWALI, Feb 10: The Pakistan Railway has suspended a train running from Rawalpindi to Multan via Attock and Mianwali, creating serious problems for the people living along its route.

Railway authorities have terminated the Bilal Express, which was not only running successfully but was also the only means of public transport between Mianwali and Attock and the intervening hilly areas of Injra, Massan, Sawan Bridge, Makhad Road, Khattakabad, Chhab, Jhamat, Ichri, Choora Sharif, Namal, Domail, Basal and Jand. They say the train has been terminated because the railway is short of engines and coaches.

As a result the people, especially of Mianwali and Jand tehsil of Attock, are facing serious problems.

Moreover, people have serious complaints about a train running between Mianwali and Lahore.

In the past, the century-old Mari-Indus train used to run between Mianwali and Lahore via Faisalabad. It was a slow-moving passenger train also with freight service. It was during Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s term as railway minister that the train was terminated for good. On its place, the minister introduced the Mianwali Express in June 2007 that now runs from Mari-Indus to Lahore via Sangla Hill instead of Faisalabad. The train is scheduled to leave Mari-Indus at 8pm and reach Lahore at 5am, but it always reaches its destination hours late.

The people want either freight service with the Mianwali Express or restoration of the Mari-Indus train. The reason is that local people have business links with Faisalabad and used to avail the freight service of the Mari-Indus train.

At the time of Mianwali Express’ inauguration, the railway minister had promised separate compartments for women in trains passing through Mianwali, but railway authorities have yet to consider this promise of the minister.