RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Railways has announced to reduce the fare of Green Line by 10%, the express passenger train that travels between Karachi and Rawalpindi. “Railways have reduced Rs600 from the old fare Rs5990 to Rs5340 for the passengers travelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi,” Rawalpindi Railways Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) Raza Ali Habib said. Now, Green Line passengers would pay Rs 1,200 for their journey between Rawalpindi to Lahore. While from Rawalpindi to Khanewal, the fare would be Rs2410. From Rawalpindi to Bahawalpur, the fare would be Rs3180. And the cost would be Rs5060 for journey between Rawalpindi to Hyderabad. Habib informed that the number of passengers who travel by train has increased due to enhanced security measures, quality service and punctuality. Approximately, 42,56,318 passengers travelled from the Rawalpindi Division by the rail service during 2017. The division has earned Rs1864213 million. Moreover, he stated that till March 20 ‘Rawalpindi Railways Division’ has earned Rs1612.618 million against the set target of Rs1595.851 million during the last nine months of financial year 2017-18. The division has generated additional revenues of Rs16.767 million. He said that the income of Rawalpindi Railways passenger trains remained at Rs1864.213 million, revenue generated by freight trains was Rs 448.728 million and other contributions stayed at Rs 290.919 million during last year. “Due to continuous efforts and struggle of railways management, officers and workers, Division’s income has increased,” he said. Habib said that the total earnings of Pakistan Railways were Rs18 billion in the year 2013. However, during the financial year 2017-18 approximately Rs33549.928 million plus additional revenue of Rs943.683 million has been earned against the set target of Rs32606.245 million. He expressed the hope that Pakistan Railways would earn over Rs45 billion this year. Last year, the revenue generation was Rs38 billion against the set target of Rs35 billion. According to passengers, there has been a remarkable improvement in the railway service during the last five years. Published in Daily Times, April 9th 2018.