QUETTA: After a 20-day suspension, the Quetta-Karachi Bolan Mail train service has finally resumed on Friday .
According to railway officials, the train, consisting of 7 coaches, departed from Quetta and is expected to reach Karachi tomorrow via the Sibi and Indus Highway route. The service was originally halted due to a very low number of passengers.
However, train services in other parts of Balochistan remain disrupted. The Quetta-to-Chaman passenger train has been suspended for a second day, with officials citing the tense situation on the Pak-Afghan border as the reason.
In contrast, the Jaffar Express service from Quetta to Peshawar is operating as normal and departed at its usual time of 9 a.m.
Also read: Quetta-Karachi Bolan mail servicesuspended on 2 October
In recent months, train operations in Balochistan have been repeatedly disrupted due to a surge in militant attacks targeting railway infrastructure and passenger trains.
Insurgent groups have carried out sabotage by planting explosives on railway tracks, targeting bridges, and at times firing on trains, creating serious security challenges for Pakistan Railways.
These attacks have not only damaged vital infrastructure but also forced frequent suspensions of passenger services, particularly on the Quetta–Karachi and Quetta–Sibi routes.
The Bolan Mail, already operating on a limited schedule, has been among the most affected services.
Railway officials argue that both security threats and low passenger turnout have made it difficult to continue regular operations.
Public representatives in Balochistan, however, view the repeated suspensions as negligence towards the province’s transportation needs, especially when alternative and affordable travel options are scarce.
