Demand to restore more train service for Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded restoration of Khushal Khan Khattak and Railway Car service besides increasing the number of sleepers in Khyber Mail train.

The demand was made by Chairman Standing Committee of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Railways and Dry port, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi.

He welcomed the Pakistan Railways decision on the revival of Awam Express Train from December 20 for passengers travelling between Peshawar to Karachi.

In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, Zia Sarhadi, who also holds the office of Coordinator for Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the decision of Pakistan Railway is praiseworthy and will provide passengers from across the country a safe an economical travelling facility from mountainous terrain of Khyber district to port city of Karachi.

He said people in Peshawar, including the business community were facing hardships in traveling to down country due to closure of Khushal Khan Khattak train that used to ply between Karachi and Peshawar by passing through interior Sindh province and Railway car service between Peshawar and Rawalpindi.

Zia Sarhadi also demanded the repair and revival of Peshawar to Landikotal railway track for revival of historic and internationally famed, Safari train service. He recalled that in 2008-09, around eleven passenger trains and eight goods trains plied between Peshawar and other parts of the country which were later closed for different reasons.

The business community leader said KP is rich in mineral resources whereas the province has big business in sectors, including marble, gems, soapstone, handicraft, herbal medicine, honey, furniture, carpet, tobacco and match sticks. Zia Sarhadi said Pakistan Railway authorities should give a serious consideration to annual revenue loss to public sector entities.