Railways allocate around 28 luxurious saloons for VIPs

ISLAMABAD: As many as 28 luxury saloon coaches of the Pakistan Railways have been allocated for travel of VIPs across the country.

Two highly luxurious coaches have been allocated for the Prime Minister while five coaches have been allocated for the Railway Minister, sources in the Ministry of Railways told APP.

They said that two saloons have been allocated to the federal government while one saloon each has been allocated to the Governor Sindh and Sindh government, Governor Balochistan, Governor Punjab and Punjab government.

In addition eight saloons have been allocated for the Railway Headquarters Lahore, in which one each will be marked to Chief Executive Officer/General Manager (BS-22) Additional General Manager BS-21, Inspector General Railway Police, Federal Government Inspector, Chief Operating Superintendent and three saloons have been allocated for Principal Officers, they added.

They said that the Principal Officers of Pakistan Railways are entitled to travel on these saloons/inspection coaches only when they are traveling on duty.

Above these all, they said that luxury saloons are also available for private travel on rental basis.

They said that saloons are very luxurious and have two rooms, bath, dining area and kitchen which is like a small house on wheels, as every facility is available in these cabins.

"The top officials can rent out these saloons for personal purposes otherwise most of the time these all saloons would remain parked," the sources added.

They said that some of these saloons are inspection coaches and their back wall is made of glass and officers would be able to view track and surrounding area from there.