Islamabad: With the railways service suspended around the country, Pakistan Railways has converted all the business class and air-conditioned sleeper coaches on its trains into mobile isolation wards for patients suffering from the novel coronavirus — a news source reported. As per the publication, the aim behind this initiative was to provide the authorities concerned with an additional 2,000 beds to accommodate affectees of the virus.
These wards can now be sent to any part of the country where
additional beds may be needed, Railways Minister Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad told the
media. Nearly 220 train coaches have been converted into the isolation wards
and each coach has about 9 compartments.
Additionally, Pakistan Railways has also made 100 beds available in each of the seven divisions of the Pakistan Railways; including Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur and Multan. Each hospital is also equipped with a ventilator.
Pakistan Railways has suspended all passenger train services
as a coronavirus precaution. However, the freight trains have been launched again
to ensure food supply around the country.
