The Pakistan Railways suspended operations of the Samjhauta Express, that runs from Lahore to New Delhi via Attari, on Thursday, Geo News has reported.
On Wednesday, the Indian government had reiterated the Samjhauta Express would run despite the outbreak of military clashes between India and Pakistan since Tuesday. Geo News reported the decision to suspend operations of the Samjhauta Express was intended to “avert any untoward incident in light of heightened security concerns.”
Provincial governments in Pakistan have put security and emergency services on alert as tension with India continued, media agencies in the country reported. On Wednesday, numerous airports in Pakistan stopped civilian flights and various international airlines have suspended services to the country.
Emergency services in Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub, were placed on alert on Wednesday. The News International, a Pakistani newspaper, reported the Sindh Health Department had issued a high alert for all major tertiary care hospitals in Karachi and across the province. The hospitals have been ordered to “keep at least 25 per cent beds vacant to meet any eventuality”; leave of medical and paramedical staff has also been cancelled.
The News International reported hospitals such as the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Truama Centre, Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Burns Centre at CHK and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) have been ordered to stock emergency medicines and equipment.
The IGP of Sindh, Dr Kaleem Imam, issued a red alert to security agencies in the province, ordering personnel to report back to duty and cancelling leave. The News International reported surveillance of “sensitive” installations has been beefed up. Karachi is home to PNS Mehran, the main base of the Pakistan Navy.
Another Pakistan news agency, ARY News, reported “reserve platoons, commando units and all police vehicles were also put on alert” across Sindh.
Social media handles claimed an electricity blackout was imposed in parts of Karachi over fear of Indian military action, though this has not been verified. Unverified images are also circulating of civil defence mechanisms, including firefighters, being put on alert in Sindh.
ARY News reported that the government of Punjab province has declared emergency in all hospitals in the province, including in Lahore, cancelled leave of medical personnel and ordered hospitals to maintain stocks of life-saving drugs.
The News International reported emergency services including ambulances and hospitals have been put on alert in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. India had launched an air strike on a terrorist camp in at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday morning.
