Jinnah Express goes in motion in Pakistan Today
'Pakistan Times' Sindh Bureau

KARACHI: The Jinnah Express’ will leave Karachi for Rawalpindi from Monday. This was announced by the Railways Minister, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, while addressing a press conference at a local hotel on Sunday.

He said that after a period of two decades, the train will have the facilities like Dining Car, Coffee Shop and arrangements for offering Namaz.

The Minister said that this train has been totally reconditioned within Pakistan and that it would be replaced with brand-new coaches on March 23.

He said that as we have doubled the number of train in Karachi, it has been decided that the 50,000 passengers handling capacity at Karachi Cantonment Station be doubled to 100,000 passengers a day and for the purpose a sum of Rs. 220 million has been allocated immediately for creation of facilities like platforms etc.

Shaikh Rashid said that it has been decided to erect boundary wall from Karachi Cantonment to Landhi Railway stations so as to secure 100 feet land along the track.

He said that there will be fence or wall on either side of the track.

The Minister said that the Jinnah Express will have 540 births and as many seats while its fair has been reduced to Rs 2,000/-per seat.

Almost 13 trains have been added to the train fleet during the last seven months including the one to be lauched on Monday.

Shaikh Rashid also announced that a new “Express Freight Train” will be started from January 15 while a new railway lines are being laid in the interior of Sindh.

He said the laying of new railway tracks and improvement of the existing ones would tremendously reduce the travel time from Karachi to the interior of the province.

The Minister appreciated the cooperation of Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Dr.

Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Karachi Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal in connection with the provision of double water supply line to the railways.

He said steps are underway for improving the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and the Mass Transit which has been handed over to the Railways Ministry.

Shaikh Rashid said Karachi Cantt. and City Stations will be transformed into a model stations equipped with all the modern facilities.

He said three platforms will be added to the Karachi Cantt.

Station to facilitate the passengers whose number has registered a sharp increase. He said the passengers travelling through trains has increased by 20 million within a period of six to seven months.

To a question, he said the Ran Pathani railway bridge has been constructed by FWO and soon he would arrange a visit to take the media along to witness the same.

Replying to another question, the Minister said the buildings and structures falling within the radius of 100 feet of the railway tracks would be demolished. He said this steps is necessary for addition of more new tracks alongside the existing ones.

He said it is one of his goals to reduce the travel time between Rawalpindi to Lahore and Lahore to Karachi to 2.5 hours and 12 hours respectively adding steps are being taken to achieve this target.

Replying to a query regarding issuance of concession cards to the journalists in line with the policy announced by the Minister in the previous year, he said a responsible person will soon be authorized to handle the matter of issuance of cards to the journalists in Karachi.●