Lahore: Pakistan is quite serious about resuming the Samjhauta Express train service with India and has proposed that discussions on this issue be held with New Delhi next month.

Disclosing this, Khursheed Ahmed Khan, chairman of Pakistan Railways, said the offer for talks had already been relayed to New Delhi via the Pakistan Foreign Office and Pakistan Railways officials would visit the Indian capital soon to finalise the technical modalities.

Khan was talking to reporters after a visit to the Wagah railway station to review arrangements for running the Samjhauta Express. Pakistan Railways general manager Aurangzeb Khan and Inspector General, Railway Police, Ahmed Naseem, were also present on the occasion, 'The News' reported.

Expressing satisfaction with the arrangements, Khan said Pakistan could not be blamed for the delay in the resumption of the train service, as it was ready to do so within 48 hours.

"We have already completed our arrangements for running the train," he said.

He claimed that India initially wanted to run a goods train instead of the Samjhauta Express. "We have made it clear that both freight and passenger service should be run simultaneously."

Importance needed to be given to the social aspect of running the train, as a number of people stood to benefit from it, Khan said, adding however that upgrading the train service could not take place unilaterally.

He was referring to India's demand that Pakistan Railways replace the economy class category with lower AC and run parlour coaches as well.

Khan concluded by saying that he had given instructions for the immediate removal of "engineering restrictions" on Lahore-Wagah railway track and for proper security for passengers.

ANI