Railways long- distance fares reduced by 10 per cent

SECURITY IN RAILWAY STATIONS AND TRAINS INCREASED; MORE POLICE FORCES DEPLOYED

The Pakistan Railways on the directive of the Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique have announced a reduction of more than 10 per cent in the longdistance rail fares for the passengers of Rawalpindi to Karachi

Divisional Commercial Officer ( DCO) Pakistan Railways, Rawalpindi Raza Habib said that Pakistan Railways had reduced fares by Rs600 ( Dh19) — from Rs5,990 to Rs5,390 — for the Margala to Karachi Cantonment journey.

Passengers on rise

Similarly, passengers travelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi cantonment need only pay Rs5,390, instead of Rs5,990. He further said that due to enhanced security measures, and improvement in service nd punctuality, rail passengers were increasing and over 42,56,318 passengers had travelled using the rail service during 2017 from Rawalpindi Division

The division earned Rs1,864.213 million last year, he added.

Pakistan Railways’ Rawalpindi Division had earned Rs1,497.362 million against the set target of Rs1,479.389 million during last eight months of 2017- 18 financial year, said Habib.

He said the Rawalpindi division generated Rs17.964 million additional revenue during the period, particularly from pas- senger service.

The income of Rawalpindi Railways’ passenger trains was Rs1,864.213 million, while revenue generated by freight trains was Rs448.728 million. Income . under other heads contributed Rs290.919 million during the previous year, he added.

Habib said the earnings of Pakistan Railways including passengers, freight and other services during just first eight months of 2017- 18 financial year was approximately Rs31 billion.

Many initiatives had been taken by the management to facilitate the passengers including e- ticketing and dupli- cate ticket facility, he said. Sixteen CCTV cameras had been installed to ensure foolproof security of the passengers on platforms, while walk- through gates had also been installed at the entrance points.

Scanners had been installed at the station to check luggage, parcels and other items booked for transportation to other cit. ies, he said.

Increased security

“We have stepped up security at railway stations and in trains and strengthened the police force to ensure the safety of the passengers,” the DCO added.

“We are treating major stations as closed buildings and allowing the passengers to enter railway stations only through walk- through gates.

“Commandos have been deployed at the stations and in trains to maintain security and thwart any untoward incident.”