LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Saturday announced launch of a new train between Sialkot and Rawalpindi from Oct 15, naming it as Marka-i-Haq passenger train in a bid to pay tributes to the armed forces for defeating India during a short-duration war in May, last year.

“We have decided to initiate operation of a new train on the Sialkot-Rawalpindi-Sialkot route from Oct 15. It will be a Marka-i-Haq passenger train,” the minister said while talking to Dawn on Saturday. “Previously, there was a train that used to operate on this route,” he said while responding to a question. However, a senior official of the department said a local train namely Sialkot passenger train remained operational on this section till 1985. And in the same year, it was closed, he added.

Meanwhile in a statement, the minister said the Mohenjodaro express train would be restored with effect from Sept 15. The minister directed the railway administration to take all necessary steps for restoration of the two services.

“All suspended trains will be restored in phases,” Mr Abbasi said, adding that efforts were under way to revive railway services and improve facilities for passengers. He also said work on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project had entered its final stage and work on the project was scheduled to begin in January. “ML-1 will transform Pakistan Railways,” the minister said.