This decision was announced by Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi amid mounting losses.

Minister Abbasi revealed that Pakistan Railways incurs losses of approximately Rs1 billion annually due to uncontrolled ticketless travel. In response, both passengers found without tickets and any railway personnel aiding them will be arrested and potentially jailed.

Many stations are being upgraded with modern amenities such as Wi-Fi at 40 major stations to improve passenger convenience, solarization efforts underway at 155 stations, with 60% already completed, and work ongoing on 27 stations in Karachi. Cleaning services have been outsourced to enhance hygiene and efficiency, particularly in major cities like Karachi.

Coach and engine maintenance issues persist—with the current fleet dating back eight years and described as substandard. Investigations are under way. Furthermore, floods have caused significant delays, disrupting both operations and revenue streams.

There is a rising demand for freight services. Two trains have already been allocated to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), which has requested ten more. Pakistan Railways currently handles only 150 of the estimated 14,000–15,000 containers in circulation. Plans are underway to outsource freight operations and support key projects like Reko Diq by 2028.

An aggressive campaign against encroachments has reclaimed railway property valued at Rs15 billion this year, with an additional Rs50 billion expected soon.

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A new agreement with the Sindh government entrusts Sindh Solid Waste Management with station cleaning at Karachi Railway Station and on trains—slashing washing time from three hours to 90 minutes and addressing bedbug and insect concerns.

Minister Abbasi’s announcement underscores a zero-tolerance policy on fare evasion, backed by enforcement measures and modernization initiatives aimed at restoring Pakistan Railways’ financial health and public reputation.