Summary Balochistan’s first mass transit train service, the Jinnah People’s Train, has been launched in Quetta on a 32-kilometre route between Sariab and Kuchlak, offering affordable fares of Rs50 to Rs100.
QUETTA (Web Desk) – Balochistan’s first mass transit train service, the Jinnah People’s Train, has been formally launched in Quetta to provide residents with an affordable, safe and convenient means of public transport.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi jointly inaugurated the service at a ceremony attended by provincial and federal officials, railway authorities, political figures and citizens.
The Jinnah People’s Train will operate on a 32-kilometre railway track between Sariab and Kuchlak, with seven stations established along the route to facilitate passengers from different areas.
The two-coach train has seating capacity for 198 passengers, while another 30 passengers can travel standing. The service is aimed at students, government and private-sector employees, labourers, traders and other residents who regularly travel between Kuchlak, Sariab and Quetta.
The proposed fare ranges from Rs50 to Rs100, making the service an economical option for daily commuters. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities will be allowed to travel free of charge, according to the announcement made at the inauguration.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the provincial government had taken steps to provide better transport facilities to the people of Balochistan.
He said the government had opted to utilise locally available resources instead of waiting for an expensive and time-consuming arrangement to import a train from China.
Bugti said the Jinnah People’s Train would benefit ordinary citizens and added that the provincial government was considering extending the service from Bostan to Mastung in the future.
He also said the government would continue working for the development of Balochistan and improving public facilities.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi described the launch as an important development for Balochistan’s public transport system. He said the province had moved ahead in introducing a metro-style rail service.
Abbasi also called for another train of a similar nature to be launched within 120 days. He said work on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project was expected to begin in January, with the project estimated to cost around $2 billion.
The Jinnah People’s Train is expected to help reduce pressure on Quetta’s busy roads while providing commuters with a relatively low-cost alternative to road transport.
The service follows the introduction of Green and Pink bus services in Quetta and represents another step towards expanding the city’s public transportation network.
