- About 1,500 feet of track washed away by floods on July 27, 2026 has been rebuilt in 45 days against a 60-day target.
- Five passenger trains and Goods Train 503 can now resume on the section.
- All 43 GEU-43 locomotives are to be fully operational by December 15.
- A general amnesty has been announced for anyone returning stolen railway material.
The flood-damaged Faisalabad-Lahore railway section has been restored in 45 days, Federal Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced at a ceremony in Lahore on Sunday. He credited the work to Pakistan Railways employees and said it reflected the government's commitment to improving rail services nationwide.
The minister also stressed that national interests must always come before political and personal considerations, and that Pakistan's stability and security should never be compromised.
How the section was rebuilt
According to Abbasi, around 1,500 feet of track between Faisalabad and Lahore was washed away by floods on July 27, 2026. Restoration formally began on September 23, once consultants had been appointed, a feasibility report prepared and funds arranged.
The original completion period was 60 days. The work was finished in 45 days with the cooperation of a private company, he said.
He singled out labourers as the real heroes of the project and announced special cash rewards for all workers involved. He also thanked CEO Railways Muhammad Hafeezullah, AGM Infrastructure Hammad Mirza, Chief Engineer Irfan-ul-Haq and Divisional Superintendent Lahore Inamullah.
With the line reopened, the Shalimar Express, Karakoram Express, Badr Express, Ghouri Express and Ravi Express can resume running, along with Goods Train 503.
| Target | Deadline |
|---|---|
| All 43 GEU-43 locomotives fully operational | December 15 |
| Digitalisation with FWO; CCTV in workshops and yards | December 31 |
| Outsourcing of 13 more trains | December 31 |
| Rohri Junction inauguration | January 15 |
| Operate 14 trains daily | January 10-20 |
| First phase of level-crossing safety project | March 30 |
Locomotives and workshops
Pakistan Railways currently runs an average of nine trains a day, and a plan has been sought to raise this to 14. The target is to operate 14 trains between January 10 and 20.
The minister said 43 GEU-43 locomotives had been running with only two or three traction motors instead of the six required, limiting their ability to haul 3,400 tonnes. All 43 will be made fully operational by December 15, he said.
On workshops, Abbasi said the CDL Workshop had been shut for 15 years and its wheel machine had been out of order since 2007-08. It once made 253 different items. The government has decided to resume local manufacturing of key components to cut imports, and production of safety brackets and other parts has already begun.
He added that investigations are under way into poor maintenance of locomotives and wagons, spare-part shortages and the deliberate closure of workshops. Some wagons, he said, had been run in a temporary and substandard condition because essential parts were missing.
Timeline
- July 27, 2026Floods wash away about 1,500 feet of track between Faisalabad and Lahore
- September 23Restoration work formally begins
- Sunday (Nov 15 report)Ceremony marks completion of the restored section
- December 15Target for all 43 GEU-43 locomotives to be fully operational
- December 31Deadline for digitalisation, CCTV monitoring and 13 more outsourced trains
- January 10-20Target to run 14 trains daily
- January 15Planned inauguration of upgraded Rohri Junction
- March 30First phase of level-crossing safety project due
Funding, stations and level crossings
Major track upgrades are being pursued with the Asian Development Bank and local banks, the minister said. Tendering for the Rohri-Karachi track is under way, with agreements expected in December or January. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a consortium of local banks to finance the 449-kilometre Rohri-Multan track.
The 150-year-old Rohri Junction will be inaugurated on January 15 after its upgrade. It will have escalators, CIP lounges and five-star-standard housing for locomotive drivers and guards. Similar improvements have been made at Rawalpindi, Khanewal, Lahore and Kotri.
On level-crossing safety, Abbasi said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had assured Rs3 billion the following week. Rs9.7 billion has been approved for the overall project, with the first phase due by March 30. He sought cooperation from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while coordination with Balochistan continues.
The Punjab government has also assured Rs5 billion to upgrade eight branch routes where Diesel Multiple Unit trains are planned.
Digitalisation, outsourcing and staff welfare
With support from the Frontier Works Organisation, digitalisation is due for completion by December 31. The system will give real-time data on train movements, locations, speeds, derailments and accidents.
Abbasi said outsourcing does not transfer ownership or control of trains to private firms. Pakistan Railways retains control, he said, while companies help improve operations and passenger facilities. Another 13 trains are planned for outsourcing by December 31.
Hepatitis screening will be carried out for about 60,000 railway employees and 3,500 railway police personnel, with free treatment for those diagnosed. Running rooms are being built or upgraded at Khanewal, Rawalpindi, Rohri, Lahore and Kotri.
Zero tolerance on theft, with an amnesty
The minister reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and theft. All workshops and yards are to have digital monitoring and CCTV cameras by December 31, and strict legal action will follow against those stealing components, brake cylinders and other machinery.
At the same time, he announced a general amnesty for people holding stolen railway material, who may return it to stations or workshops. He also said officers responsible for negligence that led to the decline of workshops and locomotive sheds would be held accountable.
Abbasi set a target of about Rs10 billion in scrap sales this year, a first for the department.
The five passenger trains and Goods Train 503 are expected to resume on the restored section. The minister's next deadlines fall on December 15 for locomotives and December 31 for digitalisation, CCTV and outsourcing.
Questions and answers
How long did the Faisalabad-Lahore track restoration take?
Work was completed in 45 days, against an initial schedule of 60 days, with the cooperation of a private company.
Which trains will resume on the restored section?
The Shalimar Express, Karakoram Express, Badr Express, Ghouri Express and Ravi Express, plus Goods Train 503.
What is the amnesty on stolen railway material?
The minister announced that people holding stolen railway items can return them to railway stations or workshops without facing action, while strict legal action awaits those who continue stealing.
Image: Nadeem Abbas Mushtaq / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
