Pakistan's first fully air-conditioned train "Karakuram Express," technically supported by China, was formally launched at the Rawalpindi Railway Station on Tuesday.
Communication Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi along with Chinese Vice Minister for Railways Peng Kaizhou inaugurated the train.
The train has 14 coaches newly imported from China and will runnon-stop between Lahore and Karachi on alternate days covering the distance in 16 hours at a speed of 110 kilometer (68 miles) per hour.
Speaking on the occasion, the Pakistan minister described the launching of the train as a turn around in Pakistan railways history. He said the coaches have been manufactured to international standard with modern technology.
Javed Ashraf Qazi expressed the hope that there would be further collaboration between Pakistan and China in the field of railways.
The Chinese Vice Minister described the train as a symbol of Sino-Pakistan friendship. He said, "We must make joint efforts to further promote friendship between the two countries."
The train will commence its first journey from Lahore to Karachi Wednesday at 5 pm coinciding with Pakistan's Independence Day and will be seen off by Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool.
Pakistan Railways is acquiring one 175 modern coaches from China. Of these 40 coaches will be manufactured in China while the rest in Pakistan. Work on the manufacture of coaches with Chinese technology will start in Pakistan in February next.
(People's Daily August 14, 2002)
