LAHORE: Pakistan Railways (PR) partially resumed the train operation for Balochistan by operating Jaffar Express on Thursday morning from Peshawar for Quetta via Lahore, Khanewal, Sukkar/Rohri and Sibbi.

However, the Jaffar Express (39-Up) will resume its operation from Quetta for Peshawar on March 28, Friday (today), followed by operating Bolan Express from Karachi to Quetta in a day or two.

“We have resumed the operation for Balochistan with restart of Jaffar Express from Peshawar for Quetta,” the PR Chief Executive Officer Mr Amir Ali Baloch told Dawn.

“We are very thankful to the security agencies for giving us security clearance, saying that it is a message for terrorists that they cannot stop us from restoring the train operation,” Mr Baloch said, appreciating the law enforcement agencies for making efforts to curb terrorism across the country.

FC, railway police provide security to Jaffar Express

To a question, he said the resumption of full train operation to and from Balochistan takes at least two days. According to him, the trains consists of four rakes—two meant for running to and from Balochistan and the remaining two require to be used for running on the next day. “So, after we start running the train from Quetta on March 28, there will be balance in the train /rakes operation, which is necessary under the operational standard operating procedures,” Mr Baloch explained.

To a question, he said the Bolan Express operation to and from Balochistan would soon be on a daily basis. As per the existing schedule, this train operates from Quetta for Karachi three days a week, followed by two days from Karachi for Quetta. “This is because we have only one rake of this train. Therefore, as announced by the minister for railways, we will soon be running this train daily (from Karachi and Quetta),” he maintained.

To another question, he said the train operation to and from Balochistan has been provided special security cover by the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and railway police.

The PR operations to and from Balochistan comprise four express trains, including Jaffar Express and Bolan Express, connecting Balochistan with Punjab and Sindh. Additionally, freight trains operate on various sections leading to Balochistan.

Jaffar Express begins its downward journey from Peshawar in the morning, arriving in Quetta the next day via Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Sukkur, and Sibbi. It departs from Quetta at 9am daily, reaching Peshawar via Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi at 7am the next day.

Bolan Express departs from Karachi at 8pm two days a week and reaches Quetta at 6:55pm the next day, with stops at various stations in interior Sindh and Balochistan. Likewise, this train departs from Quetta for Karachi three days a week. Two local trains also operate in Balochistan, running on the Sibbi-Harnai and Quetta-Chaman routes.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025