Suspended train service partially restored
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Director Operation Pakistan Railways (PR) Junaid Qureshi Tuesday said that suspended train service has been partially restored across the country.
Talking to newsmen here he said that after the restoration of train service between Lahore and Karachi, the first train Karakuram Express from Lahore departed Tuesday afternoon for the port city.
Khyber Mail will leave from Peshawar for Karachi Tonight via Lahore while from Karachi it would also depart as per schedule. He said that five freight trains have left Rohri to Karachi, while on the other hand, two passenger trains namely Quetta Express and Winter Vacation Express have left Karachi for Quetta.
Similarly, Tezgam, Super Express and Chiltan Express will run as per time table from January 2. Director said we would restore all the train service across the country as soon as possible after rehabilitation work on the damaged tracks and bridges in Sindh is completed. Pakistan Railways (PR) had to suspend its train service in certain areas of Sindh as Railway installations including trains, tracks, locomotives, bridges, level crossings, communication towers and other operational instruments came under severe attacks by the angry mobs on Saturday and Sunday.
This cost PR billions of rupees as the miscreants burnt and damaged over 63 railway stations, 29 locomotives, 31 level crossings, 170 coaches 18 bridges and 5 cranes. The other items included 27 block instruments and one VHF tower between Rohri and Sukkur causing railways communication de-link between the Sindh and rest of the country. As many as at 16 various locations, the rail track was either up-rooted or badly damaged by the mobs, bringing the train operations at halt in Karachi and Sukkur divisions of Sindh. The deteriorating law and order situation in these areas initially hampered the rehabilitation work, however, the relief was started immediately with the help of over 300 Railways workers and officers in co-ordination with Pakistan Army and Rangers.
More than 3,000 passengers stranded on different locations and trains during the period, were provided food and shelter and transported with the help of Army to their desired destinations.
Edhi Foundation and other local NGOs also contributed in the relief operation.
He said that the deteriorating law and order situation inthese areas initially hampered the rehabilitation work however, the relief was started immediately with the help of over 300 Railwaysworkers and officers in co-ordination with Pakistan Army andRangers. Mansoor Tariq said that more than 3,000 passengers stranded ondifferent locations and trains, were provided food and shelter and transported with the help of Army to their desired destinations.
He said that Edhi Foundation and other local NGOs also contributed in the relief operation.
He said the entire track on main line in Karachi and Sukkur divisions has been made fit temporarily, adding, the speed restrictions would remain imposed till the fitness of track andbridges permanently for all kind of rail traffic.
The speed of trains would be curtailed from 105 km to 85 km in the affected areas, he said.
Four stranded Oil Special Freight Trains have been cleared ex Khanpur, Bhiria Road and Nawabshah for Muzaffargarh and Laalpir to meet the fuel needs in other parts of the country, the Minister maintained.