Senior citizens get free railway tickets worth Rs20 million
Pakistan Railways has been providing 50 percent discount to 65-year elders.
(APP) – Pakistan Railways has issued worth Rs20 million of free railway tickets to senior citizens of more than 75 years of age.
Pakistan Railways has been providing 50 percent discount to 65-year elders, 50 percent to disabled and students and 25 percent discount to a person travelling along with a disabled person, an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
He said that Pakistan Railways was making all-out efforts to reinforce its fleet of locomotives and ply both passenger and freight trains on maximum routes to transform the organization into a vibrant and profit-earning entity.
Currently, Pakistan Railways has a fleet of total 460 locomotives, out of which 140 are non-functional due to their obsolete versions, he added.
He said the department was pursuing a prudent policy to attract more passengers and get increased freight business by extending a number of facilities to the public.
Replying to a question, the official said the railways had upgraded around 52 kilometers tracks during the last ten months through indigenous resources to ensure safe and smooth journey to passengers.
“No new railway tracks have been laid during the tenure of present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government since August-2018 due to financial constraints,” he added.
To another question, the official said the first aid boxes and emergency medical facilities are available in passenger trains as well as at Railway Stations across the country.
In this regard, he said that operational staff, including station masters, assistant station masters and guards, has been trained about the usage of medicines available in first aid box and emergency kit for providing emergency medical services to sick and injured passengers during journeys.
He said that railway doctor is called from a nearest railway hospital to examine passenger(s) in case of sudden sickness or emergency during journeys.
“Any patient, if found sick, is admitted in the nearby hospital or allowed to continue journey after giving necessary medication, depending on the severity of illness,” he added.
