US envoy explores Golra's railway heritage

ISLAMABAD:

The US Acting Ambassador to Pakistan, Natalie Baker, paid a special visit on Sunday to the historic Golra Railway Station and its renowned Railway Museum in Islamabad.

Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, briefed the visiting envoy on the site's rich cultural and historical significance, as well as the recent restoration and upgradation efforts carried out by Pakistan Railways.

During the visit, Minister Abbasi conducted Ambassador Baker on an extensive tour of the Golra Station, the Quaid-e-Azam Saloon, and the Heritage Railway Museum, which features vintage locomotives, carriages, and equipment dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. The US-manufactured railway machinery and instruments displayed at the museum were of particular interest to the ambassador.

Abbasi also apprised the envoy of the ongoing reform and modernisation initiatives being undertaken within Pakistan Railways under his leadership. He noted that major stations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Faisalabad have been upgraded and digitised in accordance with international standards, while Pakistan's first-ever "Safe and Smart Railway Station" has been inaugurated in Rawalpindi.

Commending the minister's reform agenda, Ambassador Baker described Abbasi as a true "railway reformist" who is successfully steering the institution towards modernisation and greater efficiency.

Highlighting the broader significance of the railway sector, Minister Abbasi remarked that Pakistan Railways is not merely a national transport network but also a symbol of the country's cultural heritage and international connectivity.