In a written reply during the National Assembly’s Question Hour on Monday, the minister defended PR’s current security arrangements as he shared strengthened counter-terror and safety measures.
He explained that in Bolan Pass, the mountainous and nearly impregnable landscape made track protection especially challenging.
In order to safeguard passengers and railway infrastructure, the number of train guards has been increased, while a pilot engine was now used to clear the track in advance of passenger trains.
He added that a bomb disposal squad conducts clearance on a trolley ahead of the pilot engine to ensure the route is secure.
Abbasi told the House that intelligence-based operations were being carried out in the area to neutralise terrorist networks.
He revealed that 37 security personnel have been deployed to protect the Jaffar Express, including 30 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, five Levies officials and two railways police officers.
He said the Ministry of Railways had contacted the chief secretaries of Sindh and Balochistan, as well as the inspector general of Balochistan and the inspector general of railways police, to further enhance security coordination.
According to the minister, a special commando unit has also been deployed on trains, while work was underway to prepare a special combat wagon that will be attached to trains in the future to respond to terrorist attacks. He said the implementation of a comprehensive security plan was continuing to prevent such incidents.
In a separate written reply, the railways minister informed the House that there was no plan to upgrade train speed beyond 200 kilometres per hour on the PeshawarKarachi route.