The first, and a historic, return trip of Thar Express successfully completed as the new train carrying 260 Indian passengers reached Karachi Cantonment station on Sunday from Indian border town of Munabao.
On this occasion again, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad greeted the Indian passengers visiting Pakistan at the railway station at 08:45 am and presented them gifts.
A large number of government officials, workers of different political parties and NGOs were among those who welcomed the passengers at the station.
Governor Ibad, expressing his pleasure over the successful trip of the Thar Express, said that the people of Sindh would be facilitated through this train.
He said the divided families living in the southern parts of both countries, Pakistan and India, could go across to see their relatives in shorter time and with less travel expenses.
He congratulated the people of Sindh for re-opening the Khokhrapar-Munabao border and said that facilities would improve with the passage of time.
Re-linking was the first step, which has been taken, he said, adding that now other work to provide maximum facilities to the people travelling on this train would be done.
He said that the around 150 km long broad gauge track from Mirpurkhas to Zero Point was laid in the shortest possible time.
He greeted MQM Rabita Committee members, MNAs, MPAs and Senators who travelled on Thar Express.
The train carrying 159 passengers and 9 crew members from Pakistan side had entered the Indian border on Saturday after almost 41 years. Federal Railway Minister Shamim Haider saw off the passengers at Zero Point.
The train on return trip arrived back at Zero Point at 3:45 pm on Saturday from Monabao. Chairman Pakistan Railway Shakil Durani welcomed the passengers. The train left for Karachi at 9:10 pm after customs and immigration clearance of the passengers at Zero Point Station.
At every railway station, from Zero Point to Karachi, people welcomed the train. The Indian passengers on Thar Express, talking to newsmen, expressed satisfaction over the re-opening of the Khokharapar-Munabao border.
They said that although many things were still needed to be improved the arrangements made by Pakistan were appreciable.
Many families were travelling for the first time after the closure of this border in 1965.