ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways has announced a major discount in train fares during three days of Eid Al-Adha besides running five special trains ahead of the festival, Pakistani state media reported on Monday, citing the railways minister.
Eid Al-Adha is one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar. Muslims mark the festival by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and sharing their meat among family, friends and the poor.
The Pakistani government has announced a four-day holiday on Eid Al-Adha from June 6 till June 9, and hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis will be traveling to their hometowns to celebrate the occasion among their loved ones.
“Pakistan Railways will… offer a 20 percent discount on fares during the three days of Eid-ul-Azha,” the Pakistan Television (PTV) reported on Monday, citing Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
The announcement came hours after the first Eid special train left the southern port city of Karachi for Lahore on Monday. The second train will leave Quetta for Peshawar at 10am today, Tuesday, while the third will leave from Lahore to Karachi via Multan at 5pm.
The fourth train will depart from Karachi to Rawalpindi at 8pm on Tuesday, while the last special train will leave Karachi for Lahore at 8pm on June 4.
Abbasi shared that the department’s revenue had reached Rs83 billion ($294 million) due to improved operations over the last four months, according to the broadcaster.
He said a new passenger train will operate between Punjab’s Lahore and Narowal district, starting June 15.
