Pakistan Railways continues to face significant operational and financial challenges, with annual losses of Rs. 1.1 billion ($3.5 million) due to fare evasion, according to Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Abbasi acknowledged that fare evasion remains a critical issue despite recent monitoring improvements. “The 2023–24 Annual Report shows that fare evasion losses still hover near Rs. 1 billion annually,” he said. The problem has persisted despite efforts to tighten enforcement.
Pakistan Railways, one of the country’s oldest state-run institutions, has faced a steady decline in passenger numbers due to increased competition from road and air travel. Freight services have also struggled as businesses increasingly prefer trucks over trains.
To address the issue, Abbasi announced that non-paying passengers and involved staff would face strict penalties, including imprisonment. The vigilance department has been instructed to increase oversight and reduce losses through stronger enforcement.
Despite its challenges, the ministry is pushing forward with modernization plans. Over 200 new locomotives are being built at the Islamabad Carriage Factory to replace outdated engines and improve overall efficiency.
The government is also in discussions with the Asian Development Bank to secure funding for the Karachi–Rohri rail line upgrade, which spans 480 kilometers. Separately, track improvements are planned between Lahore and Rawalpindi, aimed at enhancing safety and reducing travel time.
Transport analysts argue that alongside infrastructure investments, Pakistan Railways must implement institutional reforms, curb internal corruption, and improve service delivery if it hopes to regain public and commercial confidence.
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REPLACEMENT OF OLD TRACKS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND PROFIT OF PAK RAIL, NEW LOCOMOTIVE ARE NOT PROBLEM OLD PASSENGER CARRIAGES ARE MAIN ISSUE
Sorry!! but losses are not from Ticket Dodgers but Railway has been failed to attract passengers because of delays due to weaker train tracks particularly in Sindh and secondly poor and pathetic condition of train coaches.
Lahore to Karachi sector is a profitable sector, I am travelling via trains for the last 5 decades.
Reservation issues, duplication of reserved seats and force non paying intruders is the story of remote past. Ticket collectors are vigilant and forceful in ticket checking for more than past 15 years.
Improve freight train punctuality. For exporters to meet vessel in time is very important. Make arrangements to off load containers direct at port to save time.
It is submitted that first perform duty of all employees respoblity for sometime if who is not do his duty take action against according act it is un justified that ticket less in train accepted thabut mostly fright train are running over loaded
Mostly railway property sales by railway officers involved cript
Your staff is corrupted so you need to take care of this Dark side, they do their duties like nothing you should hire responsible staff to avoid more looses from the financial point of view.i think it should be helpful to you and my country..!
More misinformation
Railways doesn’t lose money. It’s a public utility. A public utility is tax payer funded. If people are dodging it , make the system more affordable and more people friendly
By this logic military loses billions more . They never provide any profits.
Kia btaen Kahan Kahan corruption hy her admi haram khany me lga hua hy
Incompetence n rampant corruption leading to worst governance r the real issues! One% leakage in revenue – though it is also questionable when PR has outsourced revenue colllection n lauchded RABTA – cannot be the cited for the sorry state of former royal department!
It due to poor performance of railway. I am 62 years and approximately I have travelled by train from Islamabad to Shahdadpur or Nawabshah twice a year with family and many time as single during more than 4 decades. The performance becomes poor and poor. The railway staff behaviour was also very specially, the conductor gards are the فرعون of this era. Currently, I travelled from Karachi to Rai wind as single and from Rai wind to Rawalpindi with family in AC lower, the entire journey was was horrible, AC was completely failed during journey, the AC staff, conductor gards and tickets chaker were enjoying the AC sleeper and it was difficult to find in which compartment they are available. ETC
Abandon electrification system between Lahore, Khanewal electric pols still erected through out railway track worth of million rupees.After over 15 years gone PR did not know what to do about these pols.It is really criminal ignorance of country assets.