LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has restored Goods in Transit to Afghanistan (GITA) train after five years of suspension.
The train used to transport freight to Afghan traders through Peshawar and it was suspended in 2012 due to fewer resources. PR chairperson Parveen Agha inaugurated the train from Karachi and this train would provide service of consignment to Afghan traders from Karachi to Peshawar. The reinstatement of the GITA is the vision and program of Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, according to which freight sector of Pakistan Railways is becoming sturdier.
It is pertinent to mention here that freight sector of the PR is generating 7 to 8 times more revenue than it was earning in 2012. The revenue raised from Rs 1.5 billion to Rs 10.5 billion.
On the other hand freight sector had only 7 locomotives and now it has exceeded to 90 and this number will surpass 100 after the import of GE locomotives.
PR CEO Muhammad Javed Anwar and AGM Traffic Abdul Hamid Razi termed the restoration of train as vital for the department. They added that primarily, one train per week would be started and later, the number of trains could be increased.
“GITA will generate revenue of Rs 2 to 3 million each week and this train will provide cheap, protective and trustworthy freight service to traders,” the CEO said.
