Pakistan Railways begins local manufacturing of train coaches

Govt starts manufacturing passenger coaches, goods wagons in Lahore and Islamabad after China's tech transfer

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Pakistan Railways (PR) has officially commenced the production of new train coaches domestically, following the successful transfer of technology from China, according to state media.

The government started manufacturing high-speed passenger coaches and goods wagons at its workshops in Lahore and Islamabad, using advanced technology transferred by China.

Additionally, Chinese experts have played a vital role in building the technical capacity of PR engineers and technicians, enabling them to produce these modern rail components locally.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that the Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory in Islamabad will assemble 184 new passenger coaches over the next three years. This initiative is expected to enhance the quality and capacity of Pakistan's rail transport system.

This progress in Pakistan's railway sector comes amid broader discussions on infrastructure projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Last month, key advancements in rail, road, and economic zone projects were discussed during a meeting between Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistani Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, as reported by the Press Information Department (PID).

China is also assisting Pakistan in upgrading and dualising the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway track. Originally built in the late 19th century, the ML-1 spans 1,872 kilometers, connecting Karachi in the south to Peshawar in the northwest.

The $6.8 billion project aims to modernise this vital transportation corridor, a cornerstone of Pakistan's efforts to expand its economic infrastructure.