With Eidul Azha around the corner, Pakistan Railways flagged off its first special train from Karachi Cantt Station to Lahore on Monday, sending hundreds of homebound passengers on their way with smiles and suitcases in tow.
The emotional pull of reuniting with loved ones lit up weary faces as passengers boarded amid a flurry of activity.
According to railway officials, the first special train comprises one business class coach, one AC standard coach, eight economy class coaches, and one power van, accommodating around 700 passengers.
The train will make scheduled stops at nine major stations during its journey: Hyderabad, Rohri, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara and Kot Lakhpat.
Passengers, expressing delight, said the journey offered them a long-awaited opportunity to visit their native towns and meet relatives, describing it as a "blessing after a long time".
The divisional superintendent (DS) of Pakistan Railways Karachi Division, Mehmood-ur-Rehman Lakho, visited the platform to inspect the travel arrangements aboard the special train. He said more special trains will be dispatched in the coming days to facilitate as many travellers as possible during the Eid holidays.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced a major Eid relief, setting a special discount on train fares for the three days of Eidul Azha.
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, speaking to the media, confirmed that Pakistan Railways will operate five special Eid trains to accommodate the holiday rush.
He also reiterated the government's commitment to upholding all agreements made with the media.
Abbasi said Pakistan Railways had achieved notable progress in its 77-year history, particularly over the last eleven months. "Railways has performed exceptionally well during this period," he added.
The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to generate revenue from leased railway properties and said that Royal Palm is being outsourced in line with the prime minister's vision. "The bidding process will be transparent, and all bids will be opened publicly," he said.
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