Pakistan Railways and the journey on the track of hope

 Pakistan Railways is a national institution that provides travel facilities to millions of passengers every day as well as supports industry and trade through freight. Recent developments in Pakistan Railways, reform initiatives and historic projects based on inter-provincial cooperation have been launched. The development of the country’s economy is linked to the improvement of the railways. Without Pakistan Railways, Tharkol, Reko Diq and regional connections are not possible.

In the last eight months, several reforms have been implemented in the Railways with the aim of modernizing the institution, providing modern and best facilities to the public and reducing financial losses in the department. To eliminate corruption and ensure transparency, the accountability system has been strengthened and the Vigilance Directorate has been fully functional. Modern facilities such as free Wi-Fi, station cleanliness, lighting, air-conditioned waiting halls for seating, CIP lounges, executive washrooms, escalators, TVMs and ATM machines have been installed at all major stations and significant improvement is also being seen in security matters.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Pak Business Express train at the Lahore Railway Station in July, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and China are moving on new paths of development, Pak-US relations are entering a new era, and the country’s economy is moving in the right direction. He said that after a long time, I was very happy to come to the Lahore Railway Station, I have seen a pleasant change here.

Positive changes are being seen in Pakistan Railways. In the Pak Business Train, excellent travel facilities have been provided not only for the elite but also for the common man on the lines of European railways. The old ticket system has been abolished and a modern digitized system has been introduced. I congratulate the Minister of Railways on the excellent arrangements for passengers in the passenger lounge, information desk and European style in the train. He said that the railways play a key role in providing transport facilities in the world.

Appreciating the improvement of the Pakistan Railways system, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had said that Hanif Abbasi made the impossible possible and put the railways back on its feet. He increased my confidence. Today, my dream regarding the improvement of the railways seems to be coming true. This is just the first step. There are still many destinations to go. We will run such trains in other cities of the country. We have to work day and night for the improvement of institutions and the development of the country. By making hard work and honesty our motto, the destiny of the country can be changed. We will show the world that if the intention is good and the will is determined, even the most difficult goal can be achieved.

Similarly, in November, on the occasion of the upgradation of Karachi Cantt Railway Station and the inauguration of Shalimar Express Train, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had said in his speech that the digitization, innovation and provision of modern facilities of Pakistan Railways will play an important role in strengthening the country’s economy. It is hoped that Pakistan Railways will create a magnificent transport system in the region in the next few years, the scope of Pakistan Railways will be further expanded, and positive results will be achieved from the collaboration of Pakistan Railways with the provinces.

The scope of partnership should also be expanded with the governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Prime Minister said that the new Shalimar Express train, the upgradation of the Cantt station, and the provision of modern facilities are a great initiative and the excellent work of the train has been done through outsourcing. Karachi is the city of lights and Karachi is the heart of Pakistan. Karachi Cantt station has been beautifully renovated. The Prime Minister further said that I congratulate Hanif Abbasi and his entire team for transforming Karachi’s dilapidated system into a modern system. The money you need for the upgradation of the railway system will be provided.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his speech thanked Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and said that the central government is making serious efforts for the development of Karachi. He requested the federal government for cooperation for KCR and said that provincial resources are insufficient for this big project and the federal government should cooperate. He assured all possible cooperation from the Sindh provincial government.

Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi says that he has learned to work hard under the guidance and vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. He said that Pakistan Railways will soon be made the best railway in the world. Record work has been done in the railways in a short period of eight months. The project to improve the Karachi-Rohri section with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is going to start soon after the approval of funds.

Initial work is also being done on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Rail project. The Thar-Kol Rail Connectivity project is being worked on in collaboration with the Sindh government. The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train is going to start soon. The outsourcing process is being accelerated in Pakistan Railways under public-private partnership so that the public can get quality and modern travel facilities. So far, 4 passenger trains have been outsourced, and the process of outsourcing 11 more passenger trains is underway.

Freight trains, brake wagons, and concrete sleeper factories, railway hospitals and schools are being outsourced to improve the quality of services, however, full protection of the rights of railway employees is being ensured. Steps taken in the field of digitization including restructuring of IT Directorate, e-office, online booking, transfer of 56 passenger trains to Karti, digital freight online system, AI-based security monitoring system and upgradation of complaints system.

Pakistan’s first safe and smart railway station has been established in Rawalpindi, in which 148 modern surveillance cameras have been installed. Free Wi-Fi facility has been provided at Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad stations. Free Wi-Fi will also be provided soon at 48 more railway stations. Solarization of 155 stations has been completed. In addition, the implementation of the open auction system has improved the services of the department and significantly increased its income. The process of providing refurbished and new coaches compatible with modern technology is ongoing in trains.

So far, the racks of Pak Business Express, Shalimar Express Lahore-Rawalpindi, including 4 rail cars, have been changed, as well as the racks of Lasani Express running between Lahore-Sialkot. So that the journey of the public can be made more comfortable and pleasant. To activate the freight sector, new agreements and further steps are being taken to improve the freight services of the railways with the collaboration of the private sector. Reactivating the freight system is not only a new life for the railways but also for the country’s economy. When the goods of the industries reach on time through trains, the journey of the country’s development will also be faster and the rush on the roads will also be reduced.

Important steps have also been taken in the Railway Police department. At the passing out parade of 468 personnel and officers, including 97 women, at the Railway Police Training School Walton, the Railway Minister congratulated the pass-outs and directed them to perform their duties with full dedication and commitment, be helpful to distressed passengers and put the training they have received into practice to bring glory not only to the Railway Department but also to the country. He praised the IG Railway Police for bringing significant improvements in the Railway Police.

Looking at the reforms in the railways, it is certain that significant changes have taken place in the railways. Keeping in mind the convenience of railway passengers who used to stand in lines for hours at stations or reservation offices, more convenience has been created in online booking and mobile applications so that the public can get rid of long queues and can plan their journey and book tickets from home.

For the convenience of passengers, modern information desks have been set up at major stations, air-conditioned waiting halls, CIP lounges, family halls, executive washrooms, escalators, TVMs and ATM machines are being installed for passengers, and tuck shops are being upgraded at the station. Train hostesses have also been deployed. To improve the cleanliness system, agreements have been signed with Rawalpindi Waste Management Company at Rawalpindi, Chaklala and Margalla stations, while agreements have been signed with Lahore Waste Management Company and Sindh Solid Waste Management Company in Karachi. The same model is being adopted in other provinces as well. There should be no compromise on the quality of food and food authorities should be allowed to check within the railway limits, while dining cars equipped with modern facilities have also been introduced in various trains.

These reforms undertaken in the last eight months are an important step towards a bright future for the railways. If this trend continues steadily, not only will the public be provided with quality travel facilities, but the railways will also play a key role in the stability of the national economy. If the intention is clear and the direction is right, even rusty tracks can shine again. The railways are not just an institution, they are the hopes of millions of people, and the responsibility of turning these hopes into reality lies with all of us. This journey of Pakistan Railways is a new era moving from reforms to development.