Pakistan Railways cancelled 11 trains scheduled to depart from Karachi for major cities, worsening the country’s growing rail transport crisis and leaving thousands of passengers stranded at stations.
The cancelled services were bound for key destinations including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan, disrupting travel plans for large numbers of passengers who had already reached railway stations expecting to depart.
Travellers reportedly waited for hours amid uncertainty before many eventually returned home after learning their trains would not run.
Major Express Trains Among Those Cancelled
Several of Pakistan Railways’ major long-distance trains were affected by the sudden suspension.
The services cancelled for the day included Rehman Baba Express, Pakistan Express, Karakoram Express, Allama Iqbal Express, Business Express, Mehran Express, Millat Express, Tezgam, Karachi Express, Khushhal Khan Khattak Express, Zakaria Express, and Fareed Express.
These trains connect Karachi with major population centres across the country and are widely used by commuters, students, and families traveling between provinces.
The cancellations, therefore, created widespread disruption across the rail network.
Technical Faults Cited by Railway Officials
Railway authorities attributed the cancellations to plant faults and technical problems affecting operations, which they said made it difficult to run services safely.
Officials stated that the situation would be reviewed and a decision regarding the resumption of services would be taken after assessing the technical issues.
Authorities expressed hope that the trains could return to normal schedules once the problems are resolved, particularly as travel demand rises ahead of Eid al-Fitr.
Labour Dispute May Be Behind Disruptions
Railway labour organisations, however, have presented a different explanation for the disruption.
According to union representatives, the cancellations may be linked to an ongoing dispute between employees and railway authorities. Workers have reportedly started a “work-to-rule” protest, a form of labour action where employees strictly follow every rule and safety procedure instead of taking extra steps that normally keep operations running smoothly.
Such protests can significantly slow down railway operations and affect scheduling across the network.
Growing Pressure on Pakistan Railways
The latest cancellations highlight long-standing operational and financial challenges facing Pakistan Railways, including maintenance issues, ageing infrastructure, and labour disputes.
With demand for affordable intercity transport rising, repeated service disruptions continue to undermine public confidence in the national railway system.
