PM directs fast-tracking rail link between Gwadar and national network

PM directs fast-tracking rail link between Gwadar and national network while charring a high-level meeting on Pakistan Railways.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has stressed the critical importance of fast-tracking the integration of Gwadar into Pakistan’s railway network. During a high-level meeting on Pakistan Railways, he emphasized the need to modernize rail infrastructure to strengthen regional connectivity and promote trade, particularly with Central Asian countries.

He highlighted that a robust railway system is fundamental to a country’s economy and called for a sustainable and modern overhaul of Pakistan’s railway infrastructure to support long-term industrial and economic development.

A key instruction from the meeting was to prioritize the railway extension project connecting Gwadar, a vital CPEC port city, to the national rail network. This link is deemed essential to fully realize Gwadar’s potential as a regional trade and logistics hub.

Prime Minister Sharif praised Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for the progress in railway reforms and the launch of new projects aimed at modernizing operations and enhancing efficiency.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi briefed the Prime Minister on ongoing reforms and development projects within Pakistan Railways. He pointed out opportunities for major investments and efforts to improve passenger services, including the installation of modern information counters at major stations to boost customer experience.

To upgrade station amenities, sanitation services at key urban stations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan have been outsourced to ensure better cleanliness standards. Furthermore, an energy transition initiative is underway, converting 155 railway stations to solar power, expected to deliver significant cost savings.

Abbasi also updated on workforce optimization, noting that over 17,000 positions have been cut so far under the rightsizing plan, with another 5,696 reductions planned to enhance operational efficiency.

These efforts align with a wider national vision to rejuvenate Pakistan Railways, improve regional trade corridors, and upgrade transportation infrastructure to meet global standards.