QUETTA   -   Federal Railways Minister Khwa­ja Saad Rafique has said that due to floods in Balochistan, Pakistan Railways has suffered a lot, how­ever, efforts are afoot to restore the suspended railway routes as soon as possible. He was ad­dressing a press conference here on Friday after paying a visit to the areas where rail track was hit by the heavy downpour and floods. 

Federal Secretary Pakistan Railways, Divisional Superinten­dent Quetta Railway and other officials were also present.

“Eleven-kilometer portion of Dera Allah Yar-Jacababad track is inundated in flood water, while Quetta Taftan rail track was af­fected by 104 places, he said and hoped that Taftan track will be restored by September 30.

The minister said that the rail­way network had been badly af­fected by rains and floods across the country. “As soon as the flood water recedes, pace of repair work on the damaged tracks will be accelerated.” However, he noted that various teams of Pakistan Railways, along with FC, NLC and Army were engaged in the restoration of the affected railway tracks. “Upgradation of Quetta railway station is a prior­ity while a railway office is also being established in Gwadar,” he said while replying to a question. 

To yet another question, the federal minister said technical teams had initiated the assess­ment of the damage to the rail­way system in the flood-affected areas. “Pakistan Railways has never faced such a loss in his­tory,” he said. 

However, the government was determined to resolve the issues by restoring the railway service day and night.