Islamabad: Pakistan Railways has introduced four more trains, including Sindh Express, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Express, Faisalabad Express, and Rehman Baba Express, a news source reported. Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the rail services, keeping the government’s word of launching 10 new trains as part of the 100 Days Agenda.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, and Special Assistants to PM Iftikhar Durrani and Naeemul Haq attended the launch ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister lauded the railways department for increasing the revenue by PKR 1.5 billion within a span of three months. After the completion of ML-1 project, he added, the travel duration from Lahore to Karachi would reduce by approximately 10 hours.
The rail services launched include Sindh Express (Karachi to Sukkur), Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Express (Karachi to Mirpurkhas), extension of Faisalabad Express from Lahore to Multan and Rehman Baba Express (Peshawar to Karachi).
Sindh Express – which will run from Karachi to Sukkur – will cover areas such as Drigh Road, Landhi, Hyderabad, Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, Nawabshah, Bandi Goth, Mehrabpur, Ranipur, Khairpur and Rohri.
It will comprise five economy class coaches with one AC standard coach, one AC business class coach and one AC parlour coach. The Karachi-Sukkur fare for the AC business class will be PKR 1,520, AC standard PKR 1,170 and the economy class fare will be PKR 470.
The Sindh Express will leave Karachi Cantt at 8:30am to reach Sukkur at 4:45pm and then it will leave Sukkur at 11am to reach Karachi at 7:15pm.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Express – which will run from Karachi all the way to Mirpurkhas– will cover Landhi, Dhabeji, Hyderabad, Jangshahi, Jhimpir, Kotri, Tando Adam and Tando Allahyar. It will depart from Mirpurkhas at 2:30pm to reach Dhabeji at 5:35pm.
The train will comprise seven economy class coaches. The fare for Dhabeji to Hyderabad has been set at PKR 140 and up to Mirpurkhas at PKR 200.
Faisalabad Express has been extended to Multan and will also cover Khanewal, Shorkot Cantonment, Abdul Hakim Railway Station, Toba Tek Singh and Gojra. It will leave from Multan at 7am to reach Faisalabad at 10:30am and then depart for Faisalabad at 11am to reach Multan at 2:30pm.
It includes five economy class carriages and per seat cost of the economy class has been set at PKR 260. It also includes one AC standard carriage, one AC business class carriage and one AC parlour carriage or coach. The fare for the AC parlour is said to be PKR 500. Similarly, the AC business class fare will be PKR 540 and AC standard PKR 470.
The Rehman Baba Express will start running between Peshawar and Karachi from December 25.
