Passengers stranded at Multan railway station

Train service witnesses several hours of delays or suspension

MULTAN: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Multan Railway Station and the city’s bus stand on Friday as the train and bus services were disrupted due to the protests across the province.

The train service on some routes remained suspended while on some other routes almost all the trains were late by several hours.

Railway Divisional Superintendent Amir Muhammad Daudpota said trains operation was continuing with some changes in routes, despite security situation in several regions of the country.

However, trains arrival and departure between Multan and Karachi were being ensured according to the schedule and trains from Karachi were being dispatched under the given timetable.



The spokesperson said Business Train and Karachi Express left Lahore from Kot Lakhpat railway station for Karachi.

Trains running between Karachi and Lahore via Faisalabad would be operated from Faisalabad while those running between Lahore and Karachi were being operated via Kundian, Sargodha and Lalamusa. As soon as the situation gets better, trains would be operated through normal routes, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers including women and children were stranded at the city’s bus stand for the last two days. Transporters have grounded and garaged their vehicles to escape the wrath of protestors.

All the markets and bazaars in Multan remained closed due to the weekly holiday of Friday. However, fruit and vegetable market remained open. All the grain markets remained closed resulting in the shortage of supplies and black marketing.

The markets which were open wore a deserted look as the people preferred to stay at home to avert any untoward incident and law and order situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2018.