LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Sunday said that the Afghanistan has assured Pakistan of providing security for laying the railway line linking Pakistan with Uzbekistan via Afghanistan.
“The deputy prime minister has played a vital role for laying 850km long track from Kohat to Uzbikstan’s border via Afghanistan. For this, the Afghan government has assured us of full support,” the minister told journalists at meet-the-press programme at the Lahore Press Club.
“Progress on the railways project to Reko Diq mines is also underway,” he added.Talking about the ongoing developments in railways, he appreciated Punjab government for pledging funds for the upgradation of the railway track between Lahore and Rawalpindi in a bid to reduce travel time. When it is upgraded, the travel time would be reduced to three hours from five hours.
“The Punjab government has also allocated Rs50 billion funds for helping railways upgrade tracks on various branch routes,” he said.
He said that cleanliness arrangements at the Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi stations were outsourced to improve performance. Food authorities had also been allowed to visit railway stations to ensure availability of hygenic food for passengers and visitors, he added.
The minister further revealed that the Punjab Information Technology Board would provide Wifi facility at 40 stations and the service was already available at the Lahore railway station. He said 105 track laying projects up to the Thar Coal site would be completed by April 30.
To a question, the minister said PM Sharif would inaugurate the upgraded business train at the Lahore station on July 29. Moreover 16 banks have been linked with the railways’ application (Rabta). And ATMs are also being installed at several railway stations,” he said, adding that 155 stations were being shifted to solar energy.
Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025