Business Desk 
Aug 15, 2025
Pakistan Railways has officially announced the major upgrades to provide modern, international-standard services to all passengers.
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi shared a detailed plan in the National Assembly, saying advancements are already visible despite limited resources.
Notably, passenger facilities at key stations like Rawalpindi, Raiwind, Khanewal, and Multan have been upgraded with clean restrooms, better waiting areas, and modern amenities.
It is worth noting that a new state-of-the-art station in Karachi will be inaugurated on September 10, followed by Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Faisalabad on September 30.
According to officials, all major stations are expected to be fully modernised by December 2025, while smaller stations will follow by June 2026.
The Narowal route has resumed after 12 years, and the Musa Pak Express from Multan is back in service, according to the railway minister.
Moreover, the ministry is working with provincial governments to restore more routes, including a 50km section from Sheikh Zaid to Kuchlak in Balochistan.
On service quality, punctuality, cleanliness, and food standards have improved, with some routes like Lahore-Rawalpindi now achieving 90–95% on-time performance.
On the other hand, mass transit projects such as the Karachi Circular Railway and Lahore Metro fall under provincial control, and technical support is available when needed.
The railway minister also highlighted the international rail link from Kohat to Mazar-i-Sharif, connecting Pakistan to Central Asia.
To note, the 850-km route project is said to boost regional trade. The Karachi-Rohri and Lahore-Rawalpindi segments of ML-1 are progressing, with Rs250 billion allocated for the latter in Punjab’s budget.
