Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that digitising and modernising Pakistan Railways, along with upgrading passenger facilities, would significantly boost the national economy.
He said the federal government, in collaboration with the Sindh government, would modernise the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and upgrade all railway stations across the province and the country.
The prime minister expressed these views while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the new Shalimar Express and the newly upgraded waiting rooms and CIP lounges at Karachi Cantt Railway Station.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The prime minister said that soon after assuming office, Abbasi worked diligently to modernise the railway system. After revamping Lahore Railway Station, Karachi Cantt Station has also been upgraded with contemporary facilities.
He said that all railway stations in the province would be modernised in coordination with the Sindh government to ensure better travel facilities for the passengers.
He said like Sindh and Punjab, such coordination with the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan should be evolved, which would ultimate make the Pakistan Railways the best transport system of this region.
PM Shehbaz said the railways freight system is also being organised, while the federal and Sindh governments have a partnership to provide transportation for Thar coal, with both governments investing 50% each in the project.
He assured that all required funds would be released in this regard so that the set targets of the projects could be achieved.
The premier said the Shalimar Express running between Karachi and Lahore has been converted into a new, upgraded train. He described Karachi as not only the economic hub but also “the heart of Pakistan”.
He reiterated that cooperation with the provincial governments of Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan would continue to ensure modernisation across the railway network and help stabilise the economy.
The prime minister praised Abbasi’s leadership, calling him the “hero of today’s ceremony”, and congratulated him for transforming the outdated railway system.
He said the federal government would work with all provinces to extend the railway network to Central Asia, specifically highlighting the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway line project.
He also emphasised reviving the Islamabad–Tehran-Istanbul rail route, which would boost our economy to the heights.
The prime minister noted that Abbasi has initiated discussions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $2 billion loan to further upgrade Pakistan Railways’ line from Karachi to Rohri, and that it would ultimately be connected to the Reko Diq project.
Responding to CM Shah’s request to include the KCR project in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the prime minister assured full cooperation, calling it a vital initiative.
