Chakwal yearns for train whistle
There was a time when the sound of a train whistle echoed across Chakwal, announcing not just a means of travel but also progress, connectivity, and hope.
The thunder of the train once signalled the dawn of development for this resource-rich yet relatively underdeveloped district.
But for reasons still unknown, train operations were halted, and tracks from Bhoun to Dhadial and further ahead were removed altogether. Had there been proper vision and planning, the Rawalpindi-Chakwal railway line could have been extended to Katas Raj, Kallar Kahar, Choa Saidan Shah, Khewra, and onwards to Sargodharegions of historical, industrial, and tourism significance both nationally and internationally.
Chakwal is home to Asia's second-largest salt mine at Khewra, a landmark of Pakistan's global identity. Kallar Kahar hosts cement factories that not only meet domestic demand but could also boost exports. Linking Chakwal, Kallar Kahar, and Khewra by rail would enhance tourism and multiply commercial activity.
Today, Chakwal's once-bustling railway station lies abandoned, resembling a haunted house now under the control of land grabbers — a stark reminder of official negligence and incompetence.
Locals demand the revival of the Rawalpindi-Chakwal railway line with extensions to Kallar Kahar, Khewra, and Sargodha. Such a project would create jobs, promote industry, and strengthen tourism.
Chakwal's people appeal to Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to address this long-standing demand. The restoration of this railway line could change the fate of the entire region.
Transport infrastructure has always been the backbone of development. Reconnecting Chakwal with the railway network would not only benefit the present generation but also be remembered with gratitude by generations to come.