PM Shehbaz orders hiring global legal experts to boost Railways’ connectivity projects

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed for hiring services of internationally recognized legal and economic experts for Pakistan Railways, particularly for regional connectivity and international train link projects.

He issued these directives while presiding over a high level meeting on matters related to Pakistan Railways in Islamabad today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister highlighted that the railway system is the backbone of economy and communications of any country.

He further directed that a public-private partnership model should be adopted to deal with railways property and land matters.

The Prime Minister said the initiatives being taken for the restoration of railway system are commendable.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the steps being taken for the improvement of Pakistan Railways.

It was informed that seven digital portals of "Raabta" are operational for the digitization of Pakistan Railways, and fifty-six trains have been integrated into "Raabta".

The meeting was apprised that free Wi-Fi facilities have been provided at Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad Railway Stations, while free Wi-Fi will be available at forty-eight more railway stations by 31st of the next month.

The meeting was further informed a pilot project for a digital weighing bridge has been launched at Karachi City Railway Station and in the next phase, this facility will also be provided at Papri, Karachi Cantt, Port Qasim, Lahore, and Rawalpindi Railway Stations.

It was told that four trains have already been outsourced, and soon eleven more trains will be outsourced, an advertisement has already been issued regarding this. This outsourcing is expected to generate additional revenue of 8.5 billion rupees.

Forty luggage and brake vans have also been outsourced, which is expected to generate an additional revenue of 820 million rupees. The outsourcing of two cargo express trains is also underway, which is expected to generate additional revenue of 6.3 billion rupees.

The meeting was briefed that Railway Constructions Pakistan Limited, Pakistan Railway Freight Transportation Company, and Pakistan Railway Advisory and Consultancy Services have been closed.

It was further informed in the meeting that a roadmap is being prepared for the up-gradation of the Karachi-Kotri section of Main Line-1 and Main Line-3 of Pakistan Railways.

The participants of the meeting were updated that, regarding the Thar Rail Connectivity project, work will be done in collaboration with the Sindh government.

It was told that the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train will start soon. Preliminary work is also underway on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan rail project.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, and concerned senior government officials attended the meeting.