Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Pakistan Railways at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, reviewing ongoing modernization, digitalization, and regional connectivity projects.
Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that railways form the backbone of any country’s economy and transport system. He lauded the efforts being made to revive and upgrade the railway network and praised Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and his team for their role in the reforms.
The Prime Minister instructed that international legal and economic experts be engaged for key railway projects, including regional links and cross-border train services. He also directed the adoption of a public-private partnership model for managing railway property and land matters.
Officials briefed the meeting on extensive digitalization efforts under the “Raabta” initiative, noting that seven digital portals are operational, 56 trains have been integrated into the platform, and 54 railway stations have been digitized. Free Wi-Fi is now available at Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad stations, with plans to extend it to 48 more stations by December 31, 2025. A freight online booking system has also been launched.
The briefing highlighted pilot projects, including a digital weighing bridge at Karachi City Railway Station, with expansion planned to Pppri, Karachi Cantt, Port Qasim, Lahore, and Rawalpindi stations. At Rawalpindi station, 148 AI-based surveillance cameras have been installed. Other improvements include installation of ATMs, outsourced cleaning services, upgraded waiting lounges, and information desks for passengers. Food quality standards are being enhanced in collaboration with provincial food authorities.
Outsourcing initiatives are underway for four trains, with 11 more to be outsourced soon, expected to generate PKR 8.5 billion in additional revenue. Similarly, outsourcing 40 luggage and brake vans is projected to yield PKR 820 billion, while two cargo express trains’ outsourcing will bring PKR 6.3 billion in extra revenue. Railway hospitals, schools, colleges, rest houses, and dry ports in Lahore, Islamabad, and Dera Ghazi Khan are also undergoing outsourcing.
In a push for sustainability, 155 railway stations have been switched to solar energy. The government has closed Railway Constructions Pakistan Ltd., Pakistan Railway Freight Transportation Company, and Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services. Plans are underway to upgrade Main Line-1 (Karachi–Kotri) and Main Line-3, while regional projects such as Thar Rail Connectivity, Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train, and Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan rail link are in early development stages.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahmed Khan Cheema, and senior officials.
