Role of Pakistan Railways (PR) in Tourism

The role of Pakistan Railways (PR) in Tourism is an always a very flashing topic. In this article, I am going to highlight the creative role of Pakistan Railways to develop and promote the tourism and travel industry in Pakistan.

Role of Pakistan Railways in Tourism

What is the Importance of the Pakistan Railway?

Rail and roads are basic, cheap, and fast modes of transport for masses across the country. The Railways of Pakistan is this nation's public, state-claimed rail line organization. It was established in 1861 and settled in Lahore. It claims 11,881 km,  of the pathway across Pakistan. Pakistan Railways extends from Torkham to Karachi, providing cargo and traveler administrations. It also gives an effective method of transportation all through Pakistan. Pakistan Railways performs a significant part in providing the farthest regions of Pakistan closer with the goal of business, tourism, training, journey, and numerous other significant administrations.

Important Tourism Trains in Pakistan:

The railways of Pakistan come from the British pilgrim days. More established trains have shaken since the English allowed them to the railway networks; the post-like stations remain steadfast. The railway tracks all through the nation lie abandoned. However, Chinese ventures could before long redo them.  

The railway of Pakistan conveys sixty-five million travelers yearly and works two hundred and twenty-eight trains, express and traveler prepares day every day. The government of Pakistan should operate more safari trains and install new rail tracks, especially in northern regions to connect newly explored exciting destinations. Consequently, it will enhance the role of railways in tourism which is directly proportional to the role of tourism in the economic development of Pakistan.

Super Express:

This train is a day-to-day express train administration in Pakistan. It was begun during the 1970s in Karachi and Lahore as the quickest train. Later the course was changed to Karachi and Sargodha through Faisalabad and reached out to Malakwal. Super Express incorporates First Class Sleeper and economy convenience. Super Express has an inexpensive fare for travelers. Super Express rail does not only transport the mass but is also an important tourism train in Pakistan.

Jinnah Express:

This train is a traveler train that runs between Karachi and Lahore day-to-day. It is a luxurious train. The train timings on all stops as indicated by the most recent timetable of the nation's rail route. Jinnah Express is another rich quick Pakistani train. It passes on mail lines using Drigh Road, Khanewal, Hyderabad Rohri, and Lahore. 
Jinnah Express was sent off as a train administration that will offer just great support with a consistent and premium journey experience. After some time, Jinnah Express also developed an economy class to cater to different travelers' necessities. Jinnah Express has different fares for different destinations. For instance, from Karachi to Lahore, it has a fare of 5700 for business class and 1950 for the economy.

Special Tourism Trains in Pakistan:

To support Pakistan's Tourism Policy, Pakistan Railways has started several tourism trains under joint ventures across famous tourist spots in Pakistan to make the traveling of tourists more convenient and speedy with keeping in view the safety and security of passengers. Below are the details of some tourism trains for your information.

Safari Tourism Train Pakistan:

It is one of the Tourism Train in Pakistan, which has been sent off to advance the culture and magnificence of the Potohar district. It is carried out from the station of Golra to Attock Khurd on Sunday. Vacationers will encounter going through the lovely scene of Potohar, comprising Margalla Hills, Sangjani burrow, and other places like Haro Bridge, Attock Khurd, and Ghazi Brotha. 

This safari train will also go through an old iron brace bridge that was built over the Indus River in 1883. The Attock Khurd is located in Punjab province and it has great significance as its houses and historical Attock Fort were built by famous Mughal emperor Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar in 1581.

The great initiative will provide an opportunity for all races of the community to ride and see historical sites, especially for family trips, study tourists, researchers within the country as well as foreigners. Starting the Safari Tourism train is an excellent step taken by the railway minister of Pakistan Azam Khan Swati toward the prime minister's vision of tourism promotion in Pakistan.

Khyber Safari Train:

Pakistan Railways started the Khyber Safari train under a joint venture of Pakistan Railways and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Khyber Pakhtun Khwa. This train is also a leisure train for tourists and travelers in Pakistan. Pakistan Railway operates this safari train between Attock Khurd and Peshawar and from Peshawar to Takht Bahi. This safari train passes through many historical places like Attock Khurd, Khairabad, and Akora Khattak. It is important to mention here that Akora Khattak is the birth and burial place of the famous Pakhtoon poet Khushal Khan Khattak. The outing requires around one hour and twenty-six minutes to go through a distributed distance of sixty-nine km, going along a whole extension of the Railway Line of Karachi-Peshawar. It is the main traveler line in Pakistan still working steam motors. 

Under the same venture, a safari bus service is also started in Peshawar to further take tourists on a tour of heritage sites inside Peshawar city like Peshawar Museum, Ghanta Ghar, Sethi House, Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Chowk Yadgar, and many more. This Safari Train venture definitely promotes awareness of history and historically significant sites among tourists. Undoubtedly, this is the landmark of cooperation between two government departments to not only promote tourism in the country but also to earn revenue for the country as well.

Pakistan Railways and Tourism Trains

Why are Railways Important for Tourism

Getting a tourist from home to his favorite tourist destination in less time and at less cost is really the development of tourism. The fact that tourists can easily reach any place is in fact a promotion of tourism. In reality, the rest of the facilities and tourist activities are secondary - all over the world, the primary, basic, cheap, and fast means of travel are the train or railways.

In every country, railway tracks connect almost every town and city. That is why railways are the best means of transportation for tourists and play important role in promoting a country's tourism.

This is a very important Question Why are Railways or Pakistan Railways important for tourism. I am trying to respond to this question to make it easy for readers to understand the importance of railways for tourism.

I am very familiar with this question from my college days since 1995 when I have been given a question in an examination that write an essay on "Tourism and Pakistan Railways."

So how I cleared this question by giving the following reasons to strongly prove my arguments.

• In Pakistan, Railways are the primary mode of conveyance for passengers as well as for cargo or freight.

• Pakistan Railways track is stretched over the length and breadth of Pakistan and no need to make new tracks.

• All prominent tourist attraction points or spots are available nearby the main railway lines.

• Railways are a mode of conveyance that is a very cheap, convenient, well-connected, and cost-effective solution for tourists as well as for family trips, especially on vacations.

• Pakistan Railways is offering a rebate on fares for students, old age, government job holders, and military personnel on their annual visits with family or individually across Pakistan.

• Pakistan Railways has small and big stations in every city and town and almost all trains stop at every station for less or more duration, so travelers or tourists may be attracted in less time by the architectural, cultural, traditional, and hospitality values of that particular area or region. It may develop tourism in the area with less cost and less time by providing quality and security.

•  Installations of Pakistan Railways itself keep a high degree of historical, architectural, and traditional values to attract tourists due to its construction and development by the British in the subcontinent since April 1858.

• Operating more safari trains and installation of new railway tracks for newly explored exciting tourist destinations will not only create Pakistan railway Jobs but also provide job opportunities in the tourism industry. 

Keeping in view the above, we can not deny the role of railways in the economic development of Pakistan.

Top Tourist Attractions near main railways track in Pakistan

• Karachi
• Hyderabad
• Sukkur
• Multan
• Lahore
• Wazirabad
• Gujrat
• Jhelum
• Gojar khan
• Rawalpindi
• Taxila
• Hassanabdal
• Attock
• Nowshera
• Peshawar
• Torkham
• Mardan
• Takht bai or Takht Bahi an archaeological site of Buddhist monetary
• Dargai
• Kohat
• Sibi
• Quetta
• Chaman
• Faisalabad
• Malakwal
• Mianwali
• Golra Islamabad
• Margalla Hills Islamabad
• Haripur
• Havelian
• Havelian to Khunjerab Pass (under feasibility)

Suggestions for Pakistan Railways to collect more revenue from Tourism Industry

Below is a list of some important suggestions that how can Pakistan Railways earn more revenue from the tourism industry:

• Arrange more special trains for tourist destinations where the track is available to make easy access to travel sites.

• Extend more tracks from the mainline towards top tourist destinations across Pakistan where no railway track is available.

• Upgrade or re-activate old tracks like Chakwal in Potohar built.

• Establish a separate tourism department to work on tourism promotion.

• Set off tourism counters at each Railways station across Pakistan

• Make new hostels or tourist accommodations on railways station where any tourist destination is located otherwise utilize available railway buildings for the accommodation of tourists after some renovation.

• Operate a coaster or bus service to convey tourists from railway stations to the nearest tourist locations for tourist tours and activities.

• Start an online booking website for tourists to book their trips to every tourist location across Pakistan.

• Set up administrative facilities near or on the railway stations for nearest tourist destinations for example; locations like Swat, Dir, and Chitral set up a travel facility at Dargai station in Malakand district. Likewise, Naran, Kaghan, and Gilgit-Baltistan locations set up travel facilities at the Hevellian station. 

• These tourism offices may manage tourists' accommodation, conveyance, food, and entertainment activities from Railway stations to tourist spots and back.

• Provide state-of-the-art tourist packages on weekends and holidays for On or Off the train journey towards tourist destinations across the country.

• Recreational, food refreshments, and other tourist activities may also be started at railway stations for the waiting duration of tourists at the stations. 

Summary of Pakistan Railways

• The First Track of Railways started in April 1858 by the British from Karachi to Kotri by laying 174 Kilometer railway track.

• The length of the railway track is 11,881 kilometers of standard 1,676 mm track.

• The whole Railways Network divided into Main and branch lines

• The Karachi-Peshawar line is called Main Line 1 (ML-1)

• The Kotri-Attock line is the Main Line 2 (ML-2)

• Rohri-Chaman is the Main line 3 (ML-3)

• Quetta-Taftan line is Main Line 4 (ML-4)

• Taxila-Khunjerab line is the Main Line 5 (ML-5)

• There are almost 20 branch lines of the Pakistan Railways network

• Three Types of Engines Diesel, Electric, and Steam.

• Total working diesel-electric locomotives are around 160.

• Total Freight wagons are 16,180.

• Total coaching vehicles are 500

• Total Trains or mails operated daily are 228

• Pakistan Railways carries almost 180,000 passengers daily.

• Total Earning of Pakistan Railways is 48, 652 Million (2020-21)

• The website for online railways booking is https://www.pakrail.gov.pk/

• Updates about seats, arrival, and departure of trains are available on the website.

• Seat reservation is confirmed through SMS

• Wi-Fi is also available on Green Line Express

• Linked with three countries, Iran, India, and Afghanistan

• Proposed countries to be linked with the Pakistan Railways network are China, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

• Up-gradation of ML1 is in the planning phase under the CPEC project, feasibility is already done in this regard. It is pertinent to mention that Karachi to Peshawar's main railway track is called ML1.

• Feasibility of 750 Kilometer track with China is awarded in 2007 to lay down the track between Taxila and Khunjerab for further connection with the Chinese rail system at Kashgar via Khunjerab Pass (Taxila-Khunjerab line)

• Check the Pakistan Railway Jobs 2021