Delay in Funds Pushes Quetta’s Peoples Train Service Launch to August Instead of April

Quetta: The much-anticipated Peoples Train Service project, spanning 35 kilometers from Saryab to Kuchlak, has faced delays due to a hold-up in fund release by the Finance Department, pushing its expected launch from April 2026 to August 2026.

The Rs 4 billion project, aimed at providing modern, safe, and affordable travel facilities for Quetta residents, was held up because Rs 1.6 billion had not been released, prompting Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti to express strong dissatisfaction.

Transport department officials confirmed that the required funds have now been released, allowing the Railways Department to begin preparation of engines and carriages.

Once completed, the project is expected to offer Quetta citizens a cost-effective and high-speed alternative to local travel, although the delay has postponed the inauguration by four months.