ISLAMABAD: Railway minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed expressed the hope Thursday that Pakistan Railways will restore passenger train operations across the country before Eid.

The minister said in a video message that the passenger train operations would be restored once Prime Minister Imran Khan had given permission.

“As a democratic Prime Minister, Imran Khan had left the matter for consideration for further two to three days”, he added.

“I was my desire that train operations may be restored May, 10 as train is a vehicle of the poor class, but the PR could not get support of all the provinces in this regard,” he said.

The minister said train service will be restarted with all necessary safety measures, according to the government’s planned standard operating procedures (SOPs), in the event of approval from the prime minister.