Abbasi Inaugurates Rawalpindi Platforms, Sets June Targets

News Desk

Rawalpindi: In a move aimed at improving passenger facilities and strengthening Pakistan’s rail network, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Saturday inaugurated upgraded platforms 4 and 5 at Rawalpindi Railway Station and set strict performance targets for officials to be achieved by June 30.

Addressing the media after the inauguration, the minister said the government was prioritising track rehabilitation and operational reforms to make rail travel safer and more efficient for the public.

He described the deteriorating condition of railway tracks as the biggest challenge facing Pakistan Railways, but assured that determined efforts were underway to overcome the issue.

Abbasi warned that railway officials had been assigned clear targets, adding that those who failed to meet them by the deadline would not be allowed to continue in their posts.

He said the prime minister had directed that no negligence would be tolerated, particularly in restoring and upgrading tracks.

Highlighting regional connectivity plans, the minister said agreements had been signed with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to enhance trade links. He added that an 840-kilometre corridor via Chaman, Kandahar, Herat and Turkmenistan would connect Pakistan to Central Asia, opening new economic opportunities.

Referring to security concerns, Abbasi said a freight train had recently been targeted near the Quetta–Taftan border with Iran, noting that such attacks had delayed service expansions. However, he termed the continued operation of Jaffar and Bolan Express trains in Balochistan a major success under challenging circumstances.

On infrastructure development, the minister said that although the ML-1 project opportunity had been missed in the past, progress was now being made. He stated that the 480-kilometre Karachi–Rohri section had secured a two-billion-dollar approval from the Asian Development Bank, with work expected to begin by the end of July.

Abbasi announced that the “Peoples Train” project would extend services to Quetta with funding from the Balochistan government, alongside the construction of new stations and local manufacturing of coaches. Freight operations between Rohri and Karachi had already increased from eight to 10 trains daily, with a target of 12.

Focusing on employee welfare, he said schools and hospitals for railway workers would be improved within a year, acknowledging that many facilities were in dilapidated condition. Except for Rawalpindi Railway Hospital, most railway hospitals would be outsourced for better management.

He added that the Hazara Express had been upgraded and all major trains would be modernised by December.

The minister further claimed that Pakistan Railways had developed the capacity to export coaches and wagons, with business-to-business contacts made with Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Chile. He added that the National Logistics Cell had planned the manufacture of four trains in collaboration with the railways.

Abbasi said an ML-II project worth about $2.5 billion would be developed with cooperation from the National Logistics Cell and DP World. A digitalisation agreement had also been signed with the Frontier Works Organization to make railway stations smarter and more secure.

He said efforts were under way to curb fuel theft and smuggling, while a major development project was being planned outside Lahore Railway Station in collaboration with the Punjab government.

Addressing safety concerns, the minister said 1,875 railway crossings across the country lacked gates, calling it a serious issue and a responsibility of provincial governments. He also highlighted the launch of safari trains in Thar and said more tourism initiatives would be introduced where feasible.

Abbasi added that welfare measures were being extended to guards, drivers and other staff, and provinces had been allowed to invest in railways following the passage of a relevant law. He also emphasised that prisoners were entitled to medical treatment in accordance with jail rules.

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