Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi says the transformation will boost trade, improve travel, and modernize stations across the country.

Pakistan is preparing to build an 850-kilometer railway line from Kohat to Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, with a 75-kilometer extension into Uzbekistan. This major international project is part of a larger plan to boost regional trade with Central Asia.

The government is also digitizing Pakistan Railways. Ticketing has been automated, real-time tracking is now live, and ATMs are installed at key stations. Wi-Fi is being rolled out at 40 stations, starting with Lahore, and expanding to Faisalabad, Karachi, and Hyderabad.

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By September 30, operations like passenger and freight trains, schools, hospitals, and rest houses will be outsourced to improve services. Government-only train saloons are now available for public rent at affordable prices.

Cleanliness is being handled by solid waste companies, and food quality will be monitored by provincial food authorities. Modern Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains with a capacity of 650 passengers will soon operate on routes like Lahore-Faisalabad and Lahore–Kasur.

The Punjab government has allocated Rs. 50 billion for eight key routes and Rs. 250 billion for a new double-track and advanced signaling system between Lahore and Rawalpindi, cutting travel time by over two hours.

In Sindh, Rohri Station is being upgraded, and Karachi’s new station will open on September 10. Construction of the Sibi–Rohri and Rohri–Karachi tracks start by June.

The Thar Coal line will be ready by April, lowering electricity costs, while the Reko Did mineral line will be finished by 2028. Faisalabad Station’s upgrade is expected to benefit up to 10,000 passengers daily and boost its industrial significance.