Pak Business Express train with nine business class coaches started its first official operation to the port city of Karachi from Lahore on February 3.—AFP Photo

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday inaugurated the country’s first business express train launched under a public private partnership.

Federal Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa, PPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira were also present at the ceremony held at the Lahore Railways Station.

The Pakistan Business Express, jointly launched by the Pakistan Railways with partnership of M/s Four Brothers, had to be launched in December, but was delayed as the coaches were not ready.

The train will run between Lahore and Karachi, covering the distance in 18 hours.

Earlier, Lahore Chamber of Commerce president Ch Zafar Iqbal said that the latest facilities, including online banking, tickets home delivery, medical staff, passengers insurance, comfortable waiting halls, wi-fi internet, computers and food had been provided to passengers while no extra charges would be collected for these facilities.

Addressing an inauguration ceremony, Bilour appealed to the prime minister to help tackle the crisis of the railways department. He said about 100 locomotives could have been repaired if an amount of Rs 11.1 billion of the bailout package approved by the federal cabinet was released. Pakistan Railways is operating trains with only 147 locomotives as compared to Indian Railways which was being run with 8,300 locomotives, added Bilour.

Passengers sit in a newly launched Pak Business Express train prior to departure in Lahore on February 3, 2012.—AFP Photo

 

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Rushed legislation
Updated 06 Nov, 2024

Rushed legislation

For all its stress on "supremacy of parliament", the ruling coalition has wasted no opportunity to reiterate where its allegiances truly lie.
Jail reform policy
06 Nov, 2024

Jail reform policy

THE state is making a fresh attempt to improve conditions in Pakistan’s penitentiaries by developing a national...
BISP overhaul
06 Nov, 2024

BISP overhaul

IT has emerged that the spouses of over 28,500 Sindh government employees have been illicitly benefiting from BISP....
Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....