ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has discontinued 23 routes of passenger trains due to the high cost of maintenance in these sections and less commercial viability of railways operation.
“The restoration of the sections depends upon the availability of resources and commercial viability,” said an official in the Ministry of Railways on Thursday.
Giving details of the closed sections, the official said that three routes were discontinued in Karachi Division, including Landhi-Korangi, Jamrao-Jhudo-Pithoro, and Karachi Circular Railway, due to lack of commercial viability.
Likewise, he informed that six discontinued sections belonged to Sukkur Division, including Tando Adam-Tharushah-Mehrabpur, Nawabshah-Sakrand, Khanpur-Chachran, Padidan-Tharu Shah-Mehrabpur, Tando Adam-Sakrand, and Padidan-Larkana via Silra Shahdad Kot.
The official said that five routes were closed in Rawalpindi Division, including Mandra-Bhaun, Pind Dadan Khan-Khushab, Miani-Bhera, Malakwal-Gharibwal, and Sargodha-Kundian.
He further informed that four sections were closed in Peshawar Division, including Mari Indus-Laki Marwat-Tank, Nowshera-Dargai, Mardan-Charsadda, while Peshawar-Landi Kotal was discontinued as the bridges linking the routes collapsed and were not repaired yet.
In Quetta Division, PR has shut down two routes including Bostan-Zhob and Sibbi-Khost, he added.
He said that the department has closed two sections in Multan Division, including Samasatta-Amruka and Bahawalnagar-Fort Abbas. PR has closed only one section in Lahore Division, Narowal-Chak Amru, due to the less commercial viability of railways operation, the official concluded.
