ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has discontinued 23 routes of passengertrains due to high cost of maintenance of these sections and lesscommercial viability of railways operation.
The restoration of the section hence, depends upon availability ofresources and commercial viability, an official in the Ministry of Railwaystold APP.
Giving details of the division vise closed passenger train sections, theofficial said that three routes were discontinued in Karachi Divisionincluding Landhi-Korangi since 1990, Jamrao-Jhudo-Pithoro since 2005 andKarachi Circular Railway since 2003 due to commercial viability.
Likewise, he said that six sections discontinued are of Sukkur Divisionincluding Tando Adam-Tharushah-Mehrabpur, Nawabshah-Sakrand,Khanpur-Chachran, Padidan-Tharu Shah- Mehrabpur, Tando Adam-Sakrand-Padidansince 1991 and Jacobabad-Larkana via Silra Shahdad Kot was closed since2009.
The official said that five routes were closed in Rawalpindi Divisionincluding Mandra-Bhaun since 1991, Pind Dadan Khan-Khushab since 2004,Miani-Bhera since 2006, Malakwal-Gharibwal since 2010 and Sargodha-Kundiansince 2013.
He said that four sections were closed in Peshawar Division including MariIndus-Laki Marwat-Tank since 199, Nowshera-Dargai and Mardan-Charsaddasince 2000 and Peshawar-Landi Kotal was discontinued as the bridges linkingthe routes collapsed and were not repaired yet.
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In Quetta Division PR has shutdown two routes including Bostan-Zhob since1991 and Sibbi-Khost since 2006, he added.
The official said that the department has closed two sections in MultanDivision including Samasatta-Amruka since 2011 and Bahawalnagar-Fort Abbassince 1997.
PR has closed only one section in Lahore Division Narowal-Chak Amru since2005 due to less commercial viability of railways operation, the officialadded.
