Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said that major projects of including digitalization of Pakistan Railways, its upgradation and outsourcing would be completed this year whereas Faisalabad Railway Station would be upgraded to modern international standards within next 45 days.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Faisalabad Railway Station here on Saturday, he said that a $10 billion project for 850-kilometer track from Kohat to Mazar-i-Sharif and a 75-kilometer extension to Uzbekistan would also be undertaken.
Abbasi said under prime minister’s vision, both short- and long-term projects are underway across the country to modernize rail operations, promote regional connectivity and provide world-class facilities to the passengers.
He said that under the digitalization drive, the ticketing system has been fully automated while the train tracking system is operational and ATM machines have been installed at major stations.
He said that in collaboration with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, WiFi services are being introduced at 40 railway stations across the province. The initiative has started from Lahore and would soon extend to Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities, he added.
He said that outsourcing process would be completed by September 30, covering nine to eleven passenger trains, freight trains, rest houses, special saloons, hospitals, schools and other facilities to improve service quality and increase revenue of Pakistan Railways.
He said that special saloons previously reserved for government officials have now been opened for the general public for rent at reasonable rates.
He said that the cleanliness system has been modernized while the solid waste management companies have taken over responsibilities at Rawalpindi’s three stations, Khanewal, Multan, Raiwind, Okara and Lahore’s three stations. The agreements for other cities are also being finalized, he said, adding that all provincial food authorities have been granted direct access to stations for monitoring and ensuring provision of quality food to the train passengers.
He announced that modern Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains would operate on various routes including Lahore to Faisalabad, Narowal, Kasur and others with a capacity of 650 passengers each and it would also be expandable as required.
He said that the Punjab government is spending Rs. 50 billion on railway uplift projects including upgradation of eight routes such as Lahore–Faisalabad, Lahore–Narowal, Lahore–Kot Addu and Lahore–Kasur. Similarly, Rs. 250 billion has been allocated for a new double track and modern signaling system between Lahore and Rawalpindi which would reduce travel time up to 2-2.5 hours between the two cities, he added.
Hanif Abbasi said that work on a linear park from Shahdara to Raiwind has begun at a cost of Rs. 2.35 billion. Other projects include the uplift of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Taxila stations and upgradation of 50-kilometer Sheikh Zayed to Kuchlak section in Balochistan.
Under an agreement with Sindh government, Rohri Railway Station would be upgraded on the Lahore model while a modern Karachi station is expected to be inaugurated on September 10, he added.
He said that feasibility study for 250-kilometer Sibi–Rohri section and 480-kilometer Rohri–Karachi track would be completed during next couple of months while its construction is expected to start by June next year.
He further said that Thar Coal track is planned for completion by next April, reducing electricity generation costs from Rs. 15 to Rs. 4 per unit whereas the Reko Diq railway link would be completed by 2028 to modernize mineral transportation.
The minister said that under Track Access Fee policy, the private sector has been allowed to operate its own wagons and trains to encourage competition and provide better and more affordable services.
He announced that Faisalabad Railway Station’s complete transformation would be carried out with the cooperation of local industrialists and traders while Gujranwala Station’s uplift would be personally funded by Aleem Khan.
Citing Lahore Railway Station’s record-time modernization, he expressed determination to bring the same quality across all stations in the country.
Upgradation of Faisalabad Station would directly benefit 8,000 to 10,000 passengers daily in addition to further strengthening position of this city as an industrial and commercial hub, he added.
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Pehle apne mulk ke tracks to sahi kar lain yeh log
What kind of delusional nonsense is this ? Pakistan doesn’t even have 1 billion $ for this.
Instead of borrowings from abroad, involve local investors. Make IPO. Give share to investors from profit of this participation. There is a lot of un taped money which people are keeping in their lockers. Make an attractive deal for general public. Borrow only that portion which can not be raised from local investors.
Sindh k railway station ko b up garde Karen
Apna Sambhala nhi ja rha. Engreez 3800 km de kr gia tha ab wo 2600 reh gia hey. Baki ittefaq se….
Pahle apni andar ki to sahi kar lo nikle hain central Asia ko connect karne huh
first built high speed railway network in pakistan. but before that fix the law and order situation so that no one blows it up
Pakistan internal train tracks need to be fixed and proper before contemplating ambitious ventures abroad. And internal affairs such as poverty, healthcare, education ….. any many other essential areas to exhibit a balanced society ……..
Lifafa journalism…… Aby khoton phaly Karachi to Peshawar track TU upgrade karlo jab dekho train track sa utar jati ha….
Connect Peshawar to DIKhan via train and later on to Kotla jam to DIKhan,
This track will give opportunity to south of KPK to touch with central Asia.
Peshawar and Hazra will help to boost trade from CPEC.
Life is miserable, during these times in particular. One feels depressed and hopeless. However, such news items make one laugh over claims of billions of dollars for connectivity with Central Asia and upgradation of Faisalabad Railway station to modern international standards in the next 45 days. A good comedy drama.
It’s all good news so far it happens.. But biggest question remains, why track existing rehabilitation of existing main line track is not being done, derailment is now a regular feature of trains… Everything ehse becomes secondary when track is not safe for trains. This is priority not cosmetics in Railways
Give contracts to Chinese companies on BOT basis to build tracks of high speed 300-350 km/hour speed from Gawadar till their border. BOT contracts will eliminate kickbacks.