Islamabad, Aug 11, 2025: Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has confirmed that Karachi modern railway station will be inaugurated on September 10, marking a major milestone in Pakistan Railways’ nationwide modernization efforts.
During his visit to Faisalabad railway station, Abbasi told reporters that the move is part of the Prime Minister’s vision to strengthen both short-term operations and long-term development in the sector. He noted recent upgrades such as the complete digitization of ticketing, a new train tracking system, ATMs at major stations, and free Wi-Fi at 40 stations in Punjab through a partnership with the provincial government.
Outsourcing of several services — including passenger and freight trains, guest houses, saloons, hospitals, and schools — is planned to be finalized by September 30. This step aims to improve service standards and boost revenue. Special saloons, once for officials only, are now available to the public at reasonable prices.
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Abbasi further stated that cleanliness at major stations is now handled by solid waste management companies, while food quality will be monitored by provincial food authorities.
The Punjab government is spending Rs. 50 billion on upgrades for eight routes, while Rs. 250 billion is allocated for a double track and advanced signaling between Lahore and Rawalpindi. Once completed, this will reduce travel time between the two cities to just over two hours.
