Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has announced a major overhaul of Pakistan’s ageing railway infrastructure, calling it a historic initiative in the country’s 78-year history. The government has launched extensive track upgrade and digitisation plans aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and travel times.
According to the minister, key projects include the upgrade of the Rohri to Karachi railway line and the Lahore to Rawalpindi railway line. These upgrades are expected to significantly reduce travel time, with high-speed train plans aiming to cut the Lahore–Rawalpindi journey to around two hours and 20 minutes.
Abbasi also highlighted additional projects such as the Nokundi-Rohri line upgrade, new track construction for Thar coal transportation, and improvements to branch-line routes across provinces. The initiatives involve collaboration with provincial governments, including Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition to infrastructure upgrades, Pakistan Railways has begun digitising its operations, including control rooms and marketing systems, to enhance monitoring and service delivery. The department is also expanding freight services, planning to dedicate locomotives for cargo transport and increase revenue streams.
The minister further announced the development of “safe and smart” railway stations, starting with Rawalpindi and Lahore, along with improved passenger services, refurbished train coaches, and expanded facilities such as Wi-Fi at major stations.
These reforms aim to modernise Pakistan Railways, boost revenue, and provide faster, safer, and more reliable transportation for passengers and freight across the country.
