Islamabad: Business-class and air-conditioned sleeper coaches of Railways are converted into mobile isolation wards by Pakistan Railways. Passenger train service has been suspended in the whole country. Passenger train service will remain suspended for an indefinite period due to the rising cases of coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The sleeper coaches converted into isolation wards, that belong to business-class and are air-conditioned, can accommodate around 2000 beds for patients suffering from the deadly novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Federal Minister Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad told reporters at the Rawalpindi Railway Station on Monday that these mobile isolation wards are ready and can be transported to any city upon request from authorities.
Pakistan Railways is playing a critical role in the transportation of basic commodities, pulses, oil as well as of other day to day general necessities across Pakistan, As per Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid. The timely supply of food items without disruption is of utmost importance.
The Freight operations of railways will continue as per the schedule in a smooth manner to ensure the timely supply of essential commodities across Pakistan.
The initial decision to resume railway operations from the 1st of April has been canceled indefinitely. Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered not to resume railway operations until further notice in the core committee meeting held on March 30th.
In case the number of coronavirus COVID-19 patients increase exponentially, in any part of the country connected with railway tracks, and the health authorities are unable to cope up with the number of coronavirus patients due to limited facilities of health and infrastructure than in those areas these mobile isolation wards can be sent immediately.
220 business-class and air-conditioned railway coaches are converted to mobile isolation wards. Each quarantine coach has nine compartments and in one compartment total nine wards are available.
Seven divisions of Pakistan Railway which include hospitals in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Sukkur, Karachi, Quetta will now have 100 beds quarantine wards for corona patients. Each equipped with one ventilator.
Federal Minister Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad told reporters that isolation ward consisting of 450 beds in Rawalpindi Railway Hospital has been established for emergency purposes to contain coronavirus COVID -19 epidemic and is open for patients.
He also added that the authorities have been notified and Pakistan Railways will do whatever it takes to contain the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 establishment of mobile isolation wards is one the key steps taken by Pakistan Railways.
Hospitals managed by Pakistan Railways and other numerous dispensaries under the railway’s control will be made available for the patients suffering from the novel coronavirus COVID-19 said the Railways Minister.
Though the prevailing situation in Pakistan is not as worse as in Italy, Spain or the United States but the true count of the spread will be known after a period of two weeks.
Pakistan Railways will keep passenger train service suspended and coaches will not operate until normalization of the situation. Mobile isolation wards will now help the government to contain coronavirus.
The chances of the imposition of curfew were rejected by the Federal Minister of Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad. He said that the next few weeks are crucial for Pakistan and masses should adopt preventive measures on their own to contain the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.
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