Pakistan Railways (PR) will be losing around 35,000 commuters per day due to suspension of its 34 passenger train operations across the country, owing to the fast spreading coronavirus - the global pandemic, official sources told Business Recorder.
This drastic decision [suspension of 34 trains for indefinite period], they said would bring a severe financial impact to the already-loss bearing oldest public entity of the country. They feared "railways would not be able to even meet its operational expenditures, disbursement of salaries, and pensions to its thousands of employees, if it will have to halt more train operations in days to come."
"Railways will lose around 35,000 passengers per day due to suspension of 34 train operations (both up and down directions) out of our total fleet of 134 trains," they said.
The freight train service, which is the main revenue earning sector to the ailing railways, is fully operational. "All fifteen trains in our system are on tracks as per their schedule." they said.
PR has notified suspension of 11 [both up and down 22] trains on Friday, with effect from March 25, 2020 till further orders, as precautionary measure to avoid the spread of corona pandemic. Out of these 11 trains, three are Karachi specific and three are interior Sindh specific.
These trains include Jinnah Express, Sir Syed Express, Bolan Mail, Moen Jo Daro, Thal Express, Marvi Passenger, Musa Pak, Chenab Express, Faisalabad Express, Saman Sarkar, and Faisal Express.
Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, the other day had already announced to suspend 6 trains [both up and down 12] with effect from March 22 till further orders.
"The passengers who have advanced booking on the aforementioned trains be fully facilitated/accommodated in other trains of their choice on priority. In case of not availing the ticket they will get full refund," reads the notification released from the office of Director General Operations PR.