RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said on Tuesday that Pakistan Railways would outsource 11 additional passenger trains as part of its ongoing reform programme, aimed at improving services and boosting revenue.
Addressing a gathering, the minister claimed that Pakistan Railways was on track to earn over Rs50 billion by Dec 31, while a further Rs60bn revenue target was expected to be achieved in the second half of the current fiscal year. He added that, if the targets were met, Pakistan Railways would cross the Rs1 trillion revenue mark by the end of the financial year for the first time in its history.
Mr Abbasi attributed the projected increase in earnings to structural reforms introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said outsourcing of train operations was a key component of the reform agenda, intended to improve efficiency, service quality and financial performance.
Under the same policy, the minister said, three railway schools had already been outsourced, while the remaining institutions would be handed over to private management within the next six months. He maintained that outsourcing was being pursued to ensure better management and reduce the financial burden on the department.
The minister also highlighted measures taken to improve safety across the railway network. He said the safety wing had been upgraded to the status of a full directorate, which, according to him, had contributed to a noticeable decline in accidents. The accident rate, he claimed, had been reduced from 0.09 per cent to 0.04pc.
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On infrastructure and security upgrades, Mr Abbasi said Rawalpindi railway station had been converted into the country’s first “smart station” through the installation of surveillance cameras and modern security systems. He added that similar upgrades would be introduced at other major railway stations next year, and that it had also been decided to install cameras inside passenger trains.
The minister said eight train rakes were upgraded in just eight months.https://t.co/Er6QzUjZfN
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 24, 2025
The minister said eight train rakes had been upgraded over the past eight months. He listed Shalimar Express, Pak Business Express, Lasani Express and Faiz Ahmed Faiz Express among the trains that had already undergone improvements. He pledged that all Pakistan Railways trains would be upgraded by December 2026.
Mr Abbasi further said that Pakistan Railways had reclaimed 394 acres of encroached land during the current year, describing it as an important step toward protecting railway assets and improving the department’s financial position.
He reiterated that the reforms were focused on enhancing passenger facilities, improving safety standards and putting Pakistan Railways on a sustainable financial footing.
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