Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has issued a strict warning that anyone travelling without a railway ticket — as well as anyone facilitating such travel — will face jail time.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad, attended by the IG Railways, SP Railways Rawalpindi Division, and other senior officials. During the briefing, authorities informed him that the ticket-checking campaign has been made more effective following his directives. Officials also shared that longstanding encroachments on railway land are being removed, and efforts are underway to reclaim every inch of the property.
In a separate meeting with Punjab Assembly member Begum Tahseen Fawad, the minister commented on the recent by-elections, saying the results proved that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) remains the largest and most popular political party in the country. He added that voters rejected the politics of lies, abuse, and chaos.
Begum Tahseen Fawad congratulated Hanif Abbasi on PML-N’s victory and presented him with a bouquet.
Meanwhile, on the instructions of Minister Abbasi, Pakistan Railways has significantly reduced fares for luxury rail saloons. According to the Railways spokesperson, the fare from Karachi to Rawalpindi has been slashed from Rs 500,000 to Rs 172,000, while Karachi to Lahore has been reduced from Rs 420,000 to Rs 150,000. Likewise, Lahore to Rawalpindi now costs Rs 44,000 instead of Rs 105,000.
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Bookings can now be made through divisional offices, while headquarters-level bookings can be handled through the Chief Commercial Manager. The decision aims to offer better travel facilities to citizens and increase revenue through underutilized railway assets.
The spokesperson added that five luxury saloons previously reserved for top government officials will now be available for the general public. These saloons feature premium seating, enhanced comfort, air-conditioning, modern facilities, and complete privacy.
