Samjhota Express to restart tomorrow: Rashid

LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has announced that the Samjhota Express train service between Pakistan and India would resume as per schedule from March 4 (Monday).Speaking at a press conference at Railways Headquarters here on Saturday, he said the train service would continue as per schedule—twice a week (Monday and Thursday). The Samjhota Express runs from Wagah railway station to Attari. The train service was suspended following the rising tensions between Pakistan and India recently while Pakistan had also closed it airspace.Sheikh Rashid went on to say that during the airspace closure, Pakistan Railways transported 25 percent extra passengers.He said Thar Express carrying 600 passengers from Pakistan had reached India (from Khokhrapar to Munabao) on Saturday while the train from the Indian side had also reached Pakistan.To a question on the release of Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan, Sheikh Rashid termed it a wise decision and said Prime Minister Imran Khan played a beautiful stroke and stood to the standards set to win Nobel Peace Prize.He said Pakistan Railways had declared an emergency by increasing its fuel stock from a week to a month. He said railways also met the demands and needs of the Pakistan Army and the general public during this period and appreciated the performance of railways workers in this regard.He also said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was not as huge as Indian Air Force in terms of numbers but PAF was far ahead in terms of quality. He also lauded the role played by Pakistani media and said they proved really responsible unlike Indian media and added the world recognised that Indian media was spreading lies.He said Pakistan’s missile system was also very advanced and not even an inch of India’s land was out of its target. He added he was ready to sacrifice his life to safeguard Pakistan.He said the Kashmir issue had once again attracted global attention and every Pakistani was standing with their Kashmiri brethren. He said India today was not recognised as a secular state by the world but as an extremist country led by RSS offshoot PM Modi.The railways minister also announced that PM Imran Khan would inaugurate VIP passenger train Jinnah Express on March 20. He said except for ML-I, Pakistan Railways would be floating tenders for all tracks soon.

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