Train tickets can now be bought at Post-offices

Posted on September 8, 2007
Filed Under >Bilal Zuberi, Travel
8 Comments
Total Views: 48439

Bilal Zuberi

The bureaucracy and agencies of the government, as slow and tedious as they may be, should still get credit when they attempt to do something to make lives easier for the citizens. For example, we have praised PTCL in the past for providing an online service to pay phone/electric/gas utility bills online.

Now it is reported in The Daily Times that Pakistan Railways is attempting an outsourced process of selling train tickets. As per the report train tickets will now be available for purchase at post-offices, at least in a few parts of Pakistan. I have myself stood in long lines to buy tickets, and have dealt with black-market re-sellers that scalp tickets on festive occasions such as Eid on key train routes.

ATP has written often about delightful train journeys and stations across Pakistan (see here, here, here, here, here, here and here). I myself have wonderful memories of train travel with my family through Sindh, Punjab and to India via the Samjhota Express – despite all the hassles involved in the process. Maybe this step towards modernization of the system will encourage more people, especially the youth, to see more of Pakistan by taking the train.

Even though this positive step deserves a shaabaash, it is now hoped that this is only the first step towards actually digitizing the process so all of this could be done from home via phone or the internet.

KARACHI: Gone will be the days when you have to stand in never-ending queues in front of the Pakistan Railway’s ticket counters. Now you can buy these tickets from your neighboring post office; Pakistan Post and Pakistan Railways signed an agreement enabling this service Wednesday. Now you can buy and confirm your seat from 15 GPOs in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur, Mir Muhammad Khaskhali, divisional superintendent of Pakistan Railways, Karachi, told Daily Times. This service will be available starting September 6 (today) between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Karachi GPO, Saddar GPO, Karachi City GPO, Al Hyderi GPO, Defense Market Post Office, FB Area Post Office, PECHS Block 6 Shahra-e-Faisal Post Office, PECHS Block 2 Shahra-e-Quaideen Post Office, PF Shahra-e-Faisal Post Office, Metropole Post Office, Bhadurabad Post Office, Jinnah International Airport Terminal Post Office, Karachi Korangi GPO, Karachi New Town GPO, Gulshan-e-Iqbal GPO, Hyderabad GPO and Sukkur GPO.

8 responses to “Train tickets can now be bought at Post-offices”

  1. kshow engsub says:

    Hopefully the availability of train tickets will reduce the pain of going to stations to buy tickets. I’ve had experience of standing in long disorderly queues to get tickets before. Post offices are localized and will save people from travelling long distances to central stations as well as will help in avoiding long lines.

  2. visit dramas3 says:

    My beloved brother was died in June 14, 2008 at the age of 50. He was an employee of Pakistan Railway.

  3. newasiantv says:

    My beloved brother was died in June 14, 2008 at the age of 50. He was an employee of Pakistan Railway.
    His website address : http://newasiantv.online/
    visit the site and pray duaa for his soul & Offer Surah Fatiha for him.

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