Pakistan
Railways provides an important mode of Transportation
in the farthest corners of the country and brings
them closer for Business, sight seeing, pilgrimage
and education. It has been a great integrating
force and forms the life line of the country by
catering to its needs for large scale movement
of people and freight.
The possibility of Karachi as a sea port was first
noticed in the mid of 19th century and Sir
Henry Edward Frere who was appointed Commissioner
of Sind after its annexation with Bombay in 1847
sought permission from Lord Dalhousie to begin
survey of sea port. He also initiated the survey
for Railway line in 1858 . It was proposed that
a railway line from Karachi City to Kotri, steam
navigation up the Indus /Chenab upto Multan and
from there an other railway to Lahore and beyond
be constructed.
It was on 13th May,1861 that first railway line
was opened for public traffic between Karachi
City and Kotri, the distance of 105 miles. The
line between Karachi City and Keamari was opened
on 16.6.1989.By 1897 the line from Keamari to
Kotri was doubled.
The railway line from Peshawar to Karachi closely
follows Alexander’s line of march through the
Hindu Kush to the sea. Different sections on
existing main line from Peshawar to Lahore and
Multan and branch lines were constructed in the
last quarter of 19th century and early years of
20th century.
The 4 sections i.e.Scinde railways, Indian Flotilla
company Punjab railway and Delhi railways working
in a single company were later on amalgamated
into Scinde, Punjab & Delhi railways company
and was purchased by the Secretary of State for
India in 1885 and in January, 1886 it was named
North Western State Railways which was later on
renamed as North Western Railways.
At the time of partition, North Western Railway’s
1847 route mile was transferred to India leaving
route miles 5048 to Pakistan. In 1954 The railway
line was extended to Mardan and Charsada
section and in 1956 Jacababad-Kashmore 2’-6’’
line was converted into broad gauge. Kot Adu-Kashmore
line was constructed between 1969 to 1973 providing
an alternate route from Karachi to up country. |
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