Karachi: Rail operations in Pakistan faced significant disruption over the weekend following two separate derailments, one in Karachi and another near Kala Shah Kaku in Punjab, according to a report by Dawn.

An economy-class coach of the newly refurbished Pak Business Express derailed on Saturday at the Karachi Cantt Railway Station yard, delaying its scheduled departure to Lahore by more than an hour and a half. Railway officials confirmed that the affected coach was empty at the time of the incident. The derailment occurred just hours after Pakistan Railways had restored services on the Lahore-Rawalpindi track near Muridke, which had been closed due to a separate derailment on Friday.

In Friday’s incident, at least 29 passengers were injured when the Islamabad Express derailed near a chemical plant close to Kala Shah Kaku in Sheikhupura district. According to Punjab’s Rescue 1122 service, five bogies came off the tracks at approximately 7:32 pm, triggering an immediate emergency response. Relief and rescue teams worked through the night and into Saturday to reopen the affected section of the line between Kala Shah Kaku and Muridke.

Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi praised local authorities for their assistance in the rescue efforts. "Our teams worked through the night and into Saturday. Rail traffic has since been restored," he said, confirming that no injured passengers remained in hospital. He added that concerns over deteriorating track conditions would be raised with senior railway officials.

The derailment of the Islamabad Express has been initially attributed to “fresh rail breakage,” according to a preliminary inspection report. In response, the Ministry of Railways has appointed Federal Government Inspector of Railways (FGIR) Aamir Nisar Chaudhry to lead a formal inquiry, which is scheduled to take place from 4 to 6 August at the Pakistan Railways Divisional Headquarters in Lahore. The final report is expected to be submitted within a week.

The recent Karachi incident, though unrelated, has further highlighted the operational challenges facing Pakistan Railways. The Pak Business Express, which features newly upgraded coaches, was inaugurated only recently by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Lahore Railway Station, marking a key initiative in modernising the country's ageing rail infrastructure.