ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 (APP):Pakistan Railways is set t
o restore one more pa
ssenger train `Akber Bugti Express` from Quetta to Lahore to facilitate the pa
ssengers of the routes and generate more revenue for the department.
“The decision t
o restore Akber Bugti Express train has been taken on the directions of the caretaker Minister fo
r Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
He said the train would facilitate the people of Quetta and Punjab provinces to travel to Balochistan and vice versa.
Curr
ently, the Jaffer Express is the only o
perational pa
ssenger train in Balochistan being run between Quetta – Peshawar, besides local Chaman and Hurnai trains.
To a question, he said in a bid to accommodate pa
ssengers, Pakistan Railways expanded the network of its express trains to 96 last year, running all over the country to better felicitate the commuters.
“Before completing the network of 96 trains over the entire railway network, the last year the figure of trains is 86 which will be improved after the concentrated efforts of the department,” he added.
They said He said the facilities being provided to the pa
ssengers at railway stations include waiting rooms, vending stalls, station restaurants, wheelchairs, an information desk, computer reservation facilities, public address system to inform the public about the arrival/departure of trains, provision of paramedics and 1st aid facility, online reservation facility, pa
ssenger insurance service and revival of help desks at stations facilities in trains.
About punctuality, he said the overall punctuality ratio of trains has improved from 76 to 93 percent in five months owing to close monitoring and stern measures taken by Pakistan Railways at the divisional and ministry levels.
“With the punctuality of trains and concrete measures taken by the department in the last five months, the number of pa
ssengers has increased by over 20 million, which is ample proof of the department’s achievement,” he added.
