Millions Suffer as Trains Halt

Suspension of Train Service is Derailing the Federation

nasiraijaz March 20, 2026

0 45 4 minutes read

Suspension of critical train services across the ML-2 route has cast a dark shadow over the lives of millions in Sindh and Balochistan.

By Abdul Fattah Odhano

The decision by Pakistan Railways to suspend critical train services across the ML-2 route has cast a dark shadow over the livelihoods of millions in Sindh and Balochistan. Under the leadership of CEO Aamir Baloch, the department has halted several lifelines, including the iconic Bolan Mail (3UP/4DN) which connects Karachi and Quetta through the heart of Sindh via Larkana and Dadu. Similarly, the Khushal Khattak Express (19UP/20DN), a vital artery for those traveling from Karachi to Peshawar through Dadu, Jacobabad, and D.G. Khan, has been silenced. These suspensions extend to regional services like the Moen Jo Daro Express between Kotri and Rohri, the Saman Sarkar Express, the Marvi Express to Khokhrapar, and the Shah Lateef Express.

While the official narrative frequently cites “operational losses” or security concerns as the primary justification, the reality on the ground tells a story of systemic neglect and a perceived regional bias. For the common man in Sindh and Balochistan, these trains are not merely modes of transport; they are the affordable backbone of their daily existence. Small-scale traders, laborers, and students who rely on the economy-class fares of the ML-2 line now find themselves stranded or forced into the hands of a private transport mafia. This “mafia”—composed of bus and coach operators—has reportedly capitalized on the vacuum, hiking fares to levels that the average citizen simply cannot afford. There are growing, bitter allegations that these suspensions are not accidental but are instead fueled by a nexus between railway officials and private transporters who benefit directly from the closure of public rail links.

The plight of the passenger is heart-wrenching. In the remote towns of Dadu, Sehwan, and Larkana, the silence of the station whistle means a complete disconnection from the country’s economic hubs. Families are separated, medical emergencies become death sentences due to the lack of affordable long-distance travel, and the local economy, which thrives around bustling railway stations, is withering away.

The sting of this injustice is sharpened by the contrast seen in other regions. While Sindh and Balochistan’s tracks fall into disuse, new projects and revamped services continue to be inaugurated in Punjab. This creates a painful “double standard” where the citizens of the southern and western provinces feel like secondary members of the federation. To the father who can no longer afford to send his son to school in another city, or the patient who can no longer reach a specialist in Karachi, the “loss” cited by the CEO feels like a hollow excuse for a deeper, more troubling abandonment. The suspension of these trains is more than a logistical change; it is a direct blow to the dignity and mobility of the common man, leaving them to navigate a world where the state’s most vital service is increasingly becoming a luxury they can no longer access.

These rail lines are not just tracks and sleepers; they are the literal connective tissue of the federation. When a train like the Bolan Mail stops running, it doesn’t just “cut a route”—it severs the lifeline of a student in Dadu and a trader in Quetta.

A Legacy Left to Rust

These routes are more than just infrastructure; they are a national heritage. Laid by the British government, these lines were designed to bridge the vast, rugged distances of the subcontinent. Historically, even after the Partition of India, the state recognized these routes as a social obligation. The government once prioritized the operation of these trains, bearing the expenses as a necessary public service to ensure that the most remote corners of the country remained integrated into the national fabric. Today, that commitment has been replaced by a balance-sheet mentality that ignores the human cost.

The “Operational Loss” vs. The Private Nexus

While the official narrative frequently cites “operational losses” or security concerns, the reality on the ground suggests a more cynical motive. For the common man, these trains are the only affordable backbone of existence.

In the vacuum left by Pakistan Railways, a private transport mafia has surged. Bus and coach operators have reportedly capitalized on the lack of competition, hiking fares to levels that the average laborer or small-scale trader simply cannot afford. There are growing, bitter allegations that these suspensions are not accidental, but rather fueled by a nexus between railway officials and private transporters who benefit directly from the closure of public rail links.

A Tale of Two Pakistans

The sting of this injustice is sharpened by a glaring regional contrast. While Sindh and Balochistan’s tracks fall into disuse and their heritage is allowed to decay, new projects and revamped services continue to be inaugurated in Punjab. This “double standard” reinforces a sense of systemic neglect.

”To the father who can no longer afford to send his son to school in another city, or the patient in Sehwan who can no longer reach a specialist in Karachi, the ‘loss’ cited by the CEO feels like a hollow excuse for a deeper, more troubling abandonment.”

The Human Toll

The consequences are heart-wrenching:

Economic Decay: Local economies that once thrived around bustling railway stations are withering away.

Medical Emergencies: In remote towns like Dadu and Larkana, the lack of affordable long-distance travel has turned manageable medical issues into death sentences.

Educational Barriers: Students from low-income families are being forced to drop out as they can no longer afford the commute to urban centers.

The suspension of these trains is more than a logistical change; it is a direct blow to the dignity and mobility of the common man. By abandoning the ML-2, the state is effectively telling its citizens in Sindh and Balochistan that their connectivity is a luxury the government is no longer willing to provide.

A Policy of Isolation

The suspension of these trains is more than a financial decision; it is a socio-economic blow to the people of Sindh and Balochistan. By cutting off the ML-2, the railway authority is effectively disconnecting the “Indus side” of Pakistan from the national grid. Without a transparent justification and a plan for restoration, these actions fuel the sense of deprivation and “step-motherly” treatment by the federal center.