LAHORE: Pakistan Railways authorities have finalized arrangements to run three express trains under the public-private partnership while the handing over of commercial management of another mail train to successful bidder has been deferred for want of coaches.

In response to an advertisement appearing in national dailies, 10 private parties have bought the bid documents for outsourcing the commercial management of Bolan Mail, Hazara Express, Khushhal Khan Khattak Express and Fareed Express.

The bids were evaluated and three parties were declared successful for operating Bolan Mail (3-Up/4-Down) between Karachi and Quetta, Hazara Express (11-Up/12-Down) between Karachi and Havelian, Khushhal Khan Khattak Express (19-Up/20-Down) between Karachi and Peshawar while Fareed Express (37-Up/38-Down) between Karachi and Lahore, a source at railways` headquarters here told Dawn on Sunday.

Under the public-private partnership, Bolan Express and Khushhal Khan Khattak Express each would have 15, Hazara Express 17 while Fareed Express 16 coaches.

`The chief marketing manager (CMM) requested the chief operating superintendent (COPS) to provide rake -passenger coaches, power and brake vans for handing over to the successful bidders.

The COPS agreed to provide rake for Khushhal Khan Khattak Express to PRACS (Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services), a subsidiary of the PR, from July 15; for Hazara Express to M/s Jamil and Company from Aug 14; for Fareed Express also to M/s Jamil and Company from Aug 21,` said the source.

The COPS conveyed to the CMM that the rake for Bolan Mail was `under maintenance` at Mughalpura Workshops, so a date could not be decided for its handing over to successful bidder M/s Hakam Jiskani, said the source.