Rashid thanks provinces for facilitating PR service resumption

After eight-week-long suspension, the Pakistan Railways resumed its operations on Wednesday as Awami Express, the first train, left the Karachi Cantonment Station at 10am.

According to the railways officials, Pakistan railways has resumed its operations from all the four provinces consequent to the announcement by Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad after months long suspension.

Rashid said that the train operation was resumed partially to facilitate the people on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, adding trains started their journey from several stations, including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Karachi, and Quetta.

He thanked the governments of the four provinces particularly Sindh for extending cooperation to restore the train operation.

He said that all the arrangements were finalised to resume the train operations, and the divisional superintendents had been directed to strictly implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The minister announced that now the online booking of train tickets would be stopped one or two hours before departure of the train to facilitate the passengers.

Moreover, booking for the trains would be made only through online ticketing service, while the booking offices would be opened after Eid, he added.

He also said they have decided to run the trains at 60 percent occupancy to maintain social distancing, and there was no fare increase.

He further said that the Pakistan Railways had already reduced the train occupancy more than Britain and India.

"They are running trains at 70 percent occupancy," he added.

The minister also said that special cleanliness arrangements had also been made at all railway stations.

He also appreciated efforts of the divisional superintendents particularly of Pindi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi for excellent arrangements.

He said that all SOPs would strictly be adopted during the train operation.

He warned that no violation of the SOPs would be tolerated and any such instance would result in action against the officers concerned.

"We will review the situation and if everything goes well then we will restore more trains from June 1st," he announced.

He appealed to the passengers to follow the SOPs and maintain social distance and travel only when required direly.

According to officials, at present 11 Up and 11 Down trains would operate daily from Karachi to important provincial capitals and cities.

The cumulative capacity of 11 Karachi-bound trains is 11,000 passengers approximately, whereas the reservation would be done on 6,600 maximum seats as per the SOP of 60 percent occupancy during the coronavirus pandemic period.

They said that all the SOPs have been implemented in letter and spirit, while resuming the train operation and no compromise will be shown to violators, adding Eid was among revenue earning seasons for Pakistan Railways, but this time the government, keeping in mind the difficulties faced by the general public, facilitated the railways passengers by commencing train operation.

The countrywide passenger train service was suspended on March 25 due to the spread of the coronavirus.

On Monday, after meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan, Rashid had said that he had assured the premier that all trains would run in accordance with the SOPs.

The PR had also warned that in case of violation of the SOPs, a passenger would initially be fined Rs500, and Rs1,000 on the next violation and in case of a third violation, such a passenger might be off-loaded at the next station.