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Pakistan Railways to Get Digital Boost, Modern Stations and New Trains

Carr.pk
Carr.pk
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Pakistan Railways to Get Digital Boost, Modern Stations and New Trains - Carr.pk

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a key meeting on Saturday at the Prime Minister’s House to review the modernisation of Pakistan Railways and its revenue generation plans. The prime minister stressed that the railway system is vital for Pakistan’s economy and communications.

The PM praised Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and his team for ongoing efforts to revive the railway system. He also directed Pakistan Railways to hire international legal and economic experts for projects involving regional and international train links. He emphasized using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for railway land and property matters.

Officials briefed the PM on progress under the “RABTA” platform, with seven digital portals now operational. So far, 56 trains have been integrated into the RABTA system, and 54 stations have been digitised.

Upgrades at major stations include:

  • Modern waiting areas and lounges inaugurated at Karachi Cantt Railway Station.
  • Free Wi-Fi at stations in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, with 48 more stations to follow by December 31.
  • Freight Online Booking System introduced for easier cargo booking.
  • Pilot digital weighing bridge at Karachi City station, soon expanding to Pipri, Karachi Cantt, Port Qasim, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
  • 148 AI surveillance cameras installed at Rawalpindi Railway Station.
  • ATM facilities being added at stations.
  • Outsourcing for cleanliness, food quality, and train services underway, expected to generate billions in revenue.

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Major infrastructure updates are in progress, including the Karachi-Rohri rail track upgrade, solarisation of stations, and Thar Rail Connectivity in partnership with the Sindh government. Plans for international connections like the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train and the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (KUAP) rail link were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, and other senior government officials.

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