Pakistan Railways has officially reinstated the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express, reestablishing direct train service between Karachi and Peshawar after a prolonged suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revival of this long-distance service marks a significant step in expanding transportation connectivity across the country. Its resumption is expected to greatly benefit residents of key districts along the route, including Dadu, Larkana, Shikarpur, Kandhkot, and Kashmore, by providing them with more convenient and affordable access to northern Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, revealed that all hospitals and 14 schools managed by Pakistan Railways will be outsourced due to their poor condition and inadequate service to the public.
Speaking at a reception organized by UC-14 Nazim Chengiz Khan and local leaders, Abbasi criticized the state of railway hospitals, stating that instead of offering proper treatment, doctors were prescribing expensive vaccines costing up to Rs50,000 for patients to buy externally.
He explained that outsourcing these institutions was necessary given their deplorable state. The reception, attended by several political figures including Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defense Production Usama Ashfaq Sarwar and Punjab Assembly members, saw Abbasi reiterate the need for accountability within Pakistan Railways. “Negligent employees will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
Abbasi also highlighted the government’s commitment to improving the working conditions for the 58,000 railway employees, noting that after meeting their demands, including overtime, it is now mandatory for workers to adhere to a digital biometric attendance system.
He urged employees to work hard and efficiently as a team to make Pakistan Railways a profitable and exemplary institution.
