ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Railways will upgrade waiting halls at its 16 major stations by equipping them with facilities like air-conditioners, internet kiosks and televisions.
The waiting rooms at the stations are generally well maintained, however, proposals are under consideration to improve facilities for passengers at railway stations across the country, an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
Initially, 16 stations including Karachi City, Karachi Cantonment, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Okara, Raiwind, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Hassanabdal, Nankana Sahib, Narowal, Peshawar and Quetta have been selected for up gradation, he added.
He said that the scope of up-gradation will cover all allied amenities for convenience of passengers. In addition one air-conditioned waiting room for ladies and one for gents have been constructed at Lahore Station.
To a question, he said it was not a fact that substandard food and other items are being sold at railway stations at higher prices and added in fact the department has introduced a new Catering Policy whereby the sale of non-standard food and other items have been completely eliminated.
Now only branded food items such as water, soft drinks, ice- cream, tea, biscuits etc that are being sold. He said a system of checking has also been put in place to ensure quality and prices of eatables being sold at the stations.