QUETTA: Train services between Quetta and the rest of the country will be restored from today (Thursday).

The announcement was made by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi during a press conference on Wednesday.

Rail services were suspended after the hijacking of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express in the Mashkaf area, earlier this month.

Mr Abbasi said the Jaffar Express would leave Peshawar on March 27, and depart from Quetta for its destination the next day. A special Eid train will also leave for Peshawar on March 29.

The minister was on a visit to Quetta along with Railways Chairman Mazhar Shah, ECO Amir Baloch and DS Quetta Imran Hayat.

Mr Abbasi also announced that Bolan Mail, which ran twice a week between Quetta and Kara-chi, would operate on a daily basis, adding that all nine trains connecting Balochistan with the rest of the country will also be restored.

He said there were some security issues on train stations, butPakistan Railways was taking steps to ensure safe journey.

He announced plans to recruit 500 personnel into railways police to strengthen security, adding that 70 per cent of the newappointments would be made from Balochistan in the first phase, while in the second phase 1,000 more people would be inductedintotheforce.

Referring to the Jaffar Express incident, he said, `It was a big tragedy, which was condemned across the world.

Mr Abbasi said, `We know Baloch are not against Punjab and the people of Punjab. Just a few elements have spread hatred.

The politics of hatred will never be succeeded.

He stated that no railway official was involved in terrorism or facilitating the terrorists, adding that railway police and other employees had sacrificed their lives in line of duty.

He said that the family of the railway policeman, who laid down his life while protecting passengers, would be paid Rs5.2 million as compensation.

He also said that efforts were underway to make security system more effective.