Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: Federal Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday said that the Pakistan Iran railway track would be repaired by September 30th. The Federal Minister arrived in this provincial capital and visited Bolan’s Hirak area where a British-built ancient bridge collapsed as a result of the floods and torrential rains a few days back.
Also Read: Floods cause suspension of train service between Pakistan, Iran
Addressing a press conference, the Minister informed that the Pak-Iran railway track Taftan was damaged in 104 locations because of floods and heavy rainfall. He however expressed the hope that the track would be restored by the technical staff of the Pakistan Railways by the 30th of September.
Other high-level railway officials also accompanied the minister during his visit to Balochistan and visited the affected sites.
“Pakistan railway suffered huge financial losses in Balochistan due to floods”, Khawaja Saad Rafique mentioned. He said the restoration of train service in the rugged Bolan mountains would take some time as floods swept away tracks and bridges and the technical teams were spending days and nights restoring the train service.
11-kilometers railway track flooded from Dera Allah Yar to Jaccobabad
The Minister revealed that the 11-kilometer railway track from Dera Allah Yar to Jaccobabad was completely flooded and it was not possible to operate the train service. “This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that railway suffered such losses”, Khawaja Saad Rafique noted.
Also Read: Monsoon disrupts train service between Balochistan Sindh Punjab
He however mentioned that Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, and civil administration were extending all possible support to the Pakistan Railways staff in the restoration of train service between Balochistan and other parts of the country.
Upgradation of Quetta railway station under consideration
The Railways Minister said the degradation of Quetta Railway station was also under consideration in view of the growing requirements of the people. He said the railway’s office was also being established in Gwadar and the department had already had 285 acres of land.
He said the railway department was in need of more than 200 acres of land in Gwadar.
