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Thar Express flagged off in Karachi amid fanfare

B. Muralidhar Reddy

First direct link between southern Pakistan and India

KARACHI: The Thar Express, linking Rajasthan with the Sindh province in Pakistan, was flagged off amid nostalgia and fanfare at the Cantonment station here on Friday night.

The Sindh people see the train, christened the "Queen of the Desert," as the first tangible benefit from the current phase of peace process. It is the first direct link between southern Pakistan and India.

With the revival of the train the travel woes of Sindh would ease.

Local media reports said that over 40 per cent of those who wanted to travel in the inaugural run cancelled their reservation. They had hoped that a ticket would ensure a visa to India but were disappointed.

India and Pakistan failed to reopen their consulates in Karachi and Mumbai as per original plans in the first week of January. The reopening has been delayed by Pakistan's inability to rent suitable accommodation in Mumbai.

The Muttahida Quami Movement, which champions the cause of migrants from India, took full credit for the train service. Party flags fluttered all over the station and songs composed for the occasion blared over the public address systems.

India has gone out of its way to make the re-launch a big event. As a special gesture, the visa facility on arrival has been extended to some 250 Pakistani journalists and scores of officials.

It is for the first time since Independence that the facility is being provided to any one from Pakistan.

The weekly train has 10 coaches and will be able to carry 400 passengers in two classes — general sleeper coaches and general seating.

In the long run, the rail route could be used for trade as well though India and Pakistan are yet to arrive at an understanding. The recent agreement between Islamabad and New Delhi on reviving the Thar Express is limited to running a passenger train.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Minister of State for Company Affairs P. C. Gupta, Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will receive the train when it arrives at Munabao at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

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Thar Express flagged off in Karachi amid fanfare

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