25% concession in fares: Pakistan Railways to run 10 special Eid trains: Saad

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) - Pakistan Railway would run special Eid trains with ten percent reduction in fares to facilitate people.

This was announced by Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique at a news conference in Islamabad on Friday afternoon.

He said there would be 25% concession in railway fares on first two days of Eid-ul Azha.

The Minister said thirty thousand additional seats have been made available on different trains and the system would be able to handle five hundred and fifty thousand passengers from 7th to 14th of Zilhaj.

The Minister categorically stated that Pakistan Railways would not be privatized and there is no such proposal under consideration of the Government.

Khawaja Saad Rafique said commercial management and passenger facilitation of three trains Fareed Express, Bolan Express and Khushal Khan Khattak Express would be handed over to the private sector.

He said these three trains were incurring huge losses and outsourcing of these operations would help check ticketless travelling and improve facilities for passengers.

He said three trains are being upgraded during current financial year. Upgraded Karakoram Express would be launched by 15th of next month. Karachi Express and Tezgam would also be upgraded.

The upgraded trains will have facilities like wifi, filtered water, and separate seats for ladies.

There would also be sound system for Azan.

The Minister said Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar Railway Stations would be modernized under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and these would have world class facilities.

He said plans are underway for up gradation of six railway stations.