Pakistan Railways is planning to transition all its stations, including major railway stations, offices, workshops, and factories, to solar power in a phased approach.
According to an official from the Ministry of Railways, this initiative is expected to save the department billions of rupees. In the first phase, approximately 99 formations, including major railway stations, nine divisional headquarters, and other critical offices, will be converted to solar energy. This alone is projected to save the department Rs. 1.8 billion.
Pakistan Railways will collaborate with the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), utilizing their expertise in solar power conversion.
Subsequent phases are expected to include additional stations, offices, and facilities in the solar power conversion plan.
Recently, Pakistan Railways decided to adopt an E-office system to enhance its digital capabilities and streamline internal processes, aiming to improve efficiency, and transparency, and reduce paper usage. The National Information Technology Board (NITB) is leading this transformation, providing training to Pakistan Railways staff on the new digital platform. The E-office system replaces traditional manual file handling with a more efficient electronic system, benefiting users and enhancing overall transparency in operations.
Additionally, advancements include the development of an app for managing journalist concession cards, integrated with the centralized reservation center for streamlined data handling. A Network Monitoring System (NMS) has been installed within the Directorate of IT to monitor the railway network, addressing disconnections promptly by coordinating with relevant service providers. This system also audits network efficiency to ensure consistent performance.
