ISLAMABAD – A parliamentary committee has asked Pakistan Railways to improve passenger safety by installing three signal jammers in each train and increasing patrolling on sensitive routes, following the recent attack on the Jaffer Express.
Officials told the National Assembly Standing Committee that the Jaffer Express was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Sultan Kot Station in Sindh on October 7. The blast derailed five bogies and injured seven people, including railway employees.
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The committee, chaired by Ramesh Lal, discussed the incident along with updates on the Karachi-Pipri freight corridor project and encroachments on railway land.
Pakistan Railways officials said the freight project will connect Karachi Port to Pipri via two new railway lines linking to Motorway M-9. The $400 million project’s first phase is expected to be completed within six months, with 17 freight trains running daily once operational.
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Officials also revealed that in Sukkur division, around 3,253 acres of railway land are under encroachment, while 457 acres have been occupied by land grabbers.
The committee urged Pakistan Railways to ensure better security and faster progress on infrastructure and land recovery efforts.