PR considering options to suspend or curtail operations in wake of COVID-19 outbreak

• Deputy Director PR Karachi Division Tariq Asad informed that train operation (Up) from Karachi and (Down) from Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi will continue today as per the routine schedule.

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways (PR) is considering the options of suspension or reducing the number of train operations in the wake of spreading Coronavirus in the country, officials at City Station Karachi told Business Recorder.

They said "Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad is expected to hold a press conference today at PID Islamabad for informing the nation about railways operation in the wake of coronavirus."

They said Rashid has already convened a meeting at PR Lahore Headquarters this morning, and he will come up with the final announcement at a press conference shortly today.

The meeting was attended by Chairman Railways Habib ur Rehman Gillani, CEO Railways Dost Ali Laghari, Secretary Railways Board Arshad Salam Khattak, AGM Traffic Zubair Shafi Ghouri, COPS Amir Ali Baloch and DG Planning Syed Mazhar Ali Shah.

Meanwhile Deputy Director PR Karachi Division Tariq Asad informed that  train operation (Up) from Karachi and (Down) from Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi will continue today as per the routine schedule.

In line with the principal concept of distancing from each other and discouraging the public gatherings for prevention of coronavirus, the Pakistan Railways Karachi division has added three more stops to all its evening trains that depart from Cantt station Karachi at 4 pm.

"The stops within the Karachi city are Drigh Road, Malir city and Landhi," he said.

The move will drastically help in curtailing the phalanxes of passengers at Cantt station Karachi thereby strengthing the preventive measures taken by the Pakistan Railways for coping with the menace of coronavirus.

The decision will be implemented today from Pak Business Express that departs at 4pm from Cantt station and will also be applicable to all the same trains travelling downwards trajectory (from Peshawar to Karachi).

All the passengers are suggested to preferably initiate and conclude their journey keeping in view the nearest railway station with respect to their residential areas.