PM Shehbaz orders expert-led overhaul in railway system

Pushes for accelerated reforms, public-private partnerships across the sector

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed that international-standard legal and economic experts be engaged for major regional and cross-border rail projects.

Chairing a detailed review at the PM House, he also pushed for accelerated reforms, digitalisation and public-private partnerships across the sector.

He stressed that the railway system in any country served as the backbone of the economy and the communication network.

The premier also appreciated the steps taken toward restoring the railways system and commended Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and his team for their work on the revival and up-gradation of Pakistan Railways.

According to the PM Office Media Wing, the meeting was attended by the railways minister, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema and senior government officials.

The forum received a comprehensive briefing on ongoing modernisation efforts, including major digital upgrades, outsourcing initiatives, improved passenger facilities and international connectivity projects.

Officials informed the meeting that seven digital portals under the 'Rabta' initiative were operational for the digitalisation of PR, with 56 trains shifted onto the platform and 54 stations digitised.

Similarly, free Wi-Fi had been provided at the Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad stations, while 48 more stations would receive the service by December 31.

An online freight booking system had been launched, and a pilot for a digital weighing bridge started at Karachi City Station, to be expanded to Pipri, Karachi Cantonment, Port Qasim, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

At Rawalpindi station, 148 AI-powered surveillance cameras had been installed, while ATM machines from various banks were being added.

The meeting was told that railway station cleanliness had been outsourced and high-quality waiting areas set up at major stations.

In addition, information desks had been established for passengers' facilitation, while provincial food authorities had been granted oversight to improve food and beverage quality at stations.

Officials said four trains had already been outsourced and advertisements issued for outsourcing eleven more, expected to generate an additional Rs8.5 billion.

Forty luggage and brake vans were also outsourced, projected to bring in Rs820 million, while outsourcing two cargo express trains was underway and expected to yield Rs6.3 billion.

Meanwhile, work is also progressing on outsourcing railway hospitals in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Sukkur, alongside the outsourcing of railway schools, colleges, rest houses and dry ports in Lahore, Islamabad and Azakhail.