Pakistan Railways to Modernize Freight and Infrastructure

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially directed Pakistan Railways to prioritize the urgent upgrade of its freight services to bolster national economic growth. While chairing a high-level Steering Committee meeting in Islamabad today, the Prime Minister highlighted that enhancing rail transport for goods is now a functional necessity for fuel conservation, especially given the current regional climate. He described the railway network as the backbone of the country’s communication and economy, stressing that modernizing the system is a central pillar of national policy to improve regional trade connectivity.

The committee reported that freight services are already projected to grow by 21 percent this year due to ongoing reforms. Significant progress is being made on the Main Line-1 project, specifically the Karachi-Rohri section, with support from the Asian Development Bank. Additionally, the Thar rail connectivity project is over halfway finished, reaching 57 percent completion. To improve transparency and operational efficiency, the ministry is implementing a digital transformation involving a freight management system, digital weighing bridges, and real-time rolling stock tracking. These technological updates, alongside the introduction of the Raabta application and free Wi-Fi at stations, aim to create a more reliable and cashless environment for users. The Prime Minister concluded that sustainable reconstruction of the entire infrastructure remains vital for supporting Pakistan’s long-term industrial and mineral transportation needs.

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