Pakistan Railways directs trains to run at 70% occupancy as coronavirus cases rise

Coronavirus positivity ratio has shot past 10%, with the death toll crossing 14,000

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A girl wearing a protective mask looks out from a train window as she returns to her hometown, after Pakistan started easing the lockdown restrictions and allowed to resume passenger trains, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Karachi, Pakistan. — Reuters/File 

  • Passengers cannot board the train without a mask.
  • Decision comes after Pakistan's coronavirus cases surge.
  • Positivity ratio has shot past 10%, with death toll crossing 14,000.


The Pakistan Railways has decided to operate its train service with a 70% cap — a decision taken in line with the National Command Operation Centre's (NCOC) directives.

The move came after the NCOC directed relevant authorities to impose restrictions following a surge in the country's coronavirus cases, a notification issued in this regard said.

The Pakistan Railways has directed all divisional superintendents to ensure that train bookings do not exceed the 70% cap and to strictly implement coronavirus SOPs. Passengers will not be allowed to board the train without a mask.

Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio shot on Thursday past 10%, and the death toll crossed 14,000 as the country battles a third wave of the virus.

The NCOC said Pakistan carried out 38,858 tests in the last 24 hours, out of which 3,946 returned positive, taking the national positivity ratio to 10.15%.

With the new cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 640,988, and the active cases stand at 37,985.