Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Wednesday outlined a comprehensive roadmap to revamp Pakistan Railways, saying that transformational progress was already underway despite limited resources. Responding to legislators' queries during the National Assembly's question-hour session, he said that passenger amenities had been substantially upgraded at major stations, including Rawalpindi City, Cantt, Raiwind, Khanewal and Multan, now aligned with modern standards for cleanliness, restroom facilities and waiting areas. He added that a state-of-the-art upgraded station was set to be inaugurated in Karachi on September 10, modelled after recent upgrades in Lahore. Stations in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Faisalabad would follow suit on September 30, with the full transformation of all major stations targeted for completion by December 31, 2025, and all smaller stations by June 2026. "We are committed to offering international-standard services to every class of passenger – economy, business and VIP, and I guarantee the facilities will match those seen in developed countries," Abbasi stated. On freight services, the minister noted that despite a shortage of rolling stock and wagons, Pakistan Railways had managed to operate an efficient nationwide cargo network originating from Sindh, generating significant revenue in the past year. "Freight is the backbone of rail systems worldwide. We're now moving toward a turnaround in this segment as well," he affirmed. Abbasi further said that the Narowal section had resumed operations after a 12-year hiatus, and the Musa Pak Express had been revived from Multan. Collaborations with the governments of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were underway to uplift and restore additional routes. "We're working on agreements with Sindh to restore discontinued routes, and discussions are ongoing with CM Sindh this month. Similar cooperation with Balochistan has enabled a 50km uplift from Sheikh Zaid to Kuchlak," he said. When he assumed office, Abbasi said, he had focused on three key service areas: punctuality, cleanliness, and food quality. He noted that the efforts had yielded measurable improvements, with punctuality now reaching 90 to 95 per cent on certain routes such as Lahore-Rawalpindi. Addressing a question on mass transit, the minister clarified that Pakistan Railways was not directly involved in projects like the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) or Lahore Metro, as such initiatives had fallen under provincial jurisdiction after the 18th Amendment. However, he added, the ministry was available to extend technical support when requested. In a landmark development, Abbasi highlighted progress on the transnational rail link from Kohat to Mazar-i-Sharif via Kharlachi. The project, part of the regional connectivity initiative envisioned during the PDM government, had seen diplomatic and technical advances, including a trilateral signing ceremony in Kabul with Afghan and Uzbek counterparts. "The 850-km link to Central Asia, with an existing 75-km track inside Uzbekistan, will be a game-changer. A feasibility study will be completed by December 31 this year," he announced. "We've already allocated $5 million, matched by Uzbekistan, while Afghanistan has assured full security for the route." Abbasi revealed that the Karachi-Rohri section (480 km) was nearing final agreement with a financial institution, while the Lahore-Rawalpindi segment — also part of ML-1 — had received a Rs250 billion allocation in Punjab's budget. "The groundwork for Karachi-Rohri and Lahore-Rawalpindi is expected to begin next year," he added, noting that negotiations for the remaining segments were ongoing with multiple stakeholders. He said that the most modern station in the 77-year history of Pakistan Railways would be inaugurated in Karachi on September 10.
from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/bstQqvc
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