QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday formally inaugurated the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service in Quetta, describing it as a major public transport initiative aimed at providing safe, comfortable and affordable travel facilities to residents of the provincial capital.
Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service to Expand to Pishin, Bostan and Mastung
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, who joined Chief Minister Bugti for the unveiling of the commemorative plaque and the train’s maiden test journey.
Provincial ministers, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri, members of the provincial assembly, Chairman Pakistan Railways, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, senior government officials and representatives of political parties also attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Bugti said the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service was the first service of its kind in Balochistan and would provide citizens with a reliable and affordable mode of transportation.
Project Developed Through Local Capacity
Bugti said the initial proposal envisaged importing engines and coaches from China at an estimated cost of Rs50–60 billion, with completion expected to take three to four years. However, the project was expedited through the manufacturing of new engines and coaches by Pakistan Railways, which, according to the chief minister, helped save both time and resources while utilizing domestic capacity.
The chief minister announced that the service would be expanded to two trains by next year, with trains operating in both directions. He added that work had already begun on upgrading the railway track toward the Bostan Industrial Estate, while future plans include extending the service to Pishin, Bostan and Mastung.
Free Travel for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities
CM Bugti also announced that travel on the Jinnah Peoples Metro Train Service would be free for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Fares for other passengers, he said, would remain subsidized and affordable.
He thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Frontier Corps Balochistan, Pakistan Railways and other institutions for their cooperation in completing the project.
Also Read: Balochistan Launches People’s Train Service to Improve Public Transport
Bugti said the provincial government’s priorities remained focused on the welfare and development of the people of Balochistan. He also acknowledged the role of the provincial bureaucracy, parliamentarians, cabinet members, Pakistan Railways and political parties in advancing the project.
The chief minister further said that the people of Balochistan wanted peace, progress and prosperity, adding that dialogue remained open while stating that violence and the use of arms against the state could not be used to impose an ideology.
