Lahore:
On Sunday, the government outlined major reforms for Pakistan railways, including an imminent agreement on Rohri -Karachi section, an RS50 billion allocation to upgrade Lahore -Rawalpindi track, reducing travel time to two hours and digitalisation of the railway system.
The development came when Minister of Railways Hanif Abbasi approached the “Meet the Press” event at the Lahore Press Club.
When he spoke to the apartment, the minister announced “sweeping reforms” to modernize the sector, highlight improvements such as outsourcing cleaning services at seven stations over rawalpindi, karachi and lahore, which improves food quality and installs free Wi-Fi at Lahore Railway Station.
He highlighted upgrades of key infrastructures, including an soon-to-be-to-finalized agreement on Rohri-Karachi railway section and an RS50 billion award of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to upgrade Lahore-Rawal Pindi track, reducing travel time to two hours.
Roller stairs and information tables have been introduced at stations, and a 105 kilometer railway track for coal transport is set to be completed by April 30, reducing electricity costs from RS15 to RS4.5 per year. Unit. In addition, a business train with Wi-Fi-Equipped Coaches and High Quality Dining Room on July 29 by PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The minister announced plans to digitize the railway system, link sixteen knocks to the Railways app and install ATMs at 348 stations. In order to tackle inefficiency, three railway companies have been shut down and employees with long abandoned will be revoked.
“Pakistan Railways are Pakistan’s pride,” Abbasia declared, promising to make it profitable if the federal government covers pensions and wages. He emphasized that the railways do not originate from workers, but from named persons who plundered the system.
He emphasized the need for investment in railways to increase the national economy, warned that major reforms are imminent and that bureaucratic inefficiencies will not be tolerated.
Abbasi revealed a compassionate approach to contract workers. “We could reject contract employees with a monthly salary, but instead we are considering assigning the railway’s sanitary staff to their local areas,” he shared and signaled a commitment to the welfare of the employees.
The “Suthra Punjab” initiative will be expanded to rail colonies aimed at improving the living conditions of the staff and their families. Abbasi also claimed unprecedented improvements in cleanliness across the rail system and said, “The level of cleanliness we have now achieved in railways has never been seen before.”
By cracking down on illegal activities, Abbasi emitted a strict warning against ticket -free travel and related offenses. “Smuggling and theft used to plague railways. Now anyone traveling without a ticket or helping such activities will be prone to prison,” he warned.
To strengthen security, Pakistan Railways has recruited 500 new staff to the Railway Police and plans to acquire scanners and metal detectors using the department’s own budget.
