MULTAN, Oct 17 (APP):Pakistan Railways (PR) Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah has announced that the Bahauddin Zakariya Express and Musa Pak Express will receive new coaches within one-and-a-half months to improve passenger facilities. Talking to APP by telephone, he said Pakistan Railways was working to provide new coaches to all trains, adding that the Carriage Factory Islamabad and Railway Workshop Lahore were manufacturing coaches at a fast pace. “On Thursday, …
PR to provide new coaches to Bahauddin Zakariya, Musa Pak Express soon: Railway CEO
MULTAN, Oct 17 (APP):Pakistan Railways (PR) Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah has announced that the Bahauddin Zakariya Express and Musa Pak Express will receive new coaches within one-and-a-half months to improve passenger facilities.
Talking to APP by telephone, he said Pakistan Railways was working to provide new coaches to all trains, adding that the Carriage Factory Islamabad and Railway Workshop Lahore were manufacturing coaches at a fast pace.
“On Thursday, I inaugurated a new rake for Millat Express at Faisalabad,” he said, identifying the availability of rolling stock as one of the major challenges facing Pakistan Railways.
Responding to questions about the recent increase in train derailments, Hafeezullah said several factors contributed to such incidents, including the condition of railway tracks.
“We are trying to treat the ailments with an injection, whereas the situation requires surgery,” he remarked, stressing the need for fundamental improvements in railway infrastructure.
He said the Main Line-I (ML-I) project had remained pending for a decade, adding that its completion would help address major track-related issues.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways was working to improve track conditions on the Sukkur-Karachi section, where the permissible train speed had been increased from 40 to 80 kilometres per hour, he added.
The CEO said that, despite financial constraints, the department had made every effort over the past six months to improve passenger facilities.
Regarding the recent derailment of the Rehman Baba Express near Sher Shah in Multan, which resulted in casualties, Hafeezullah said the initial report had been issued. He added that Federal Government Inspector of Railways (FGIR) Amir Nisar would conduct a detailed inquiry, with the findings to be submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
He said passenger safety remained the top priority of Pakistan Railways.
