In a fresh example of mismanagement in Pakistan Railways (PR), the authorities have restored the service of three passenger trains but on the other hand gave away the Rail Car to a private company under the so-called public-private partnership. The three trains restored on Friday are the Okara Passenger train, the Babu Express between Wazirabad and Sialkot, and the Moj Darya Express for Narowal.
Sources in Pakistan Railways told Pakistan Today that the decision to give the operative rights of the Rail Car to a private company had been taken and an announcement in this regard would be made after Eid-ul-Azha. The Rail Car, which moves between Lahore and Rawalpindi, is the only profitable train but it was being cancelled for the last two months. Following media criticism and demands by passengers, PR authorities decided to give the train to a private company to resume its services.
Sources said that an advertisement in this regard would be published in newspapers in a few days. According to PR officials, the department would collect fares of 75 to 80 seats in every coach, which would generate daily revenue of Rs 800,000 while the remaining profit would be claimed by the private company.
