Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi met Defence Secretary Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali today in Islamabad. Secretary Power Division Dr. Fakhar Alam Irfan and Director General NLC Major General Farrukh Shehzad Rao were also present during the meeting.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi informed the participants that, for the first time in the history of Pakistan Railways, work is being carried out with such speed, innovation, and a well-coordinated strategy. He emphasized that all these reformative and development initiatives are being implemented in line with the vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Federal Minister stated that Pakistan’s first Safe and Smart Railway Station has been established in Rawalpindi, featuring a 24/7 Artificial Intelligence–based monitoring system with 184 modern surveillance cameras, significantly strengthening the security and monitoring mechanism.
He further informed that, as part of the digitization drive, a Rail Tag system has been introduced, enabling real-time tracking of trains and rolling stock, which will greatly enhance operational transparency and efficiency.
The Federal Minister also shared that a Weigh Bridge has been inaugurated in Karachi to address the issue of overloading. This initiative will not only increase Pakistan Railways’ revenue but will also enhance track safety and ensure safer train operations.
It was highlighted during the meeting that approximately 70 percent of passenger footfall has been covered through the provision of free Wi-Fi services at major railway stations across the country. In addition, ATM machines have been installed at various railway stations to promote cashless transactions.
Briefing the participants on passenger facilitation measures, the Federal Minister stated that several railway stations have been upgraded, trains have been improved, and CIP lounges have been established to provide enhanced comfort and convenience to passengers. Several other initiatives have also been undertaken to further improve passenger services.
The Federal Minister also informed that an agreement for the ML-1 project has been finalized with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and concrete steps are being taken to complete the project at the earliest. The ML-1 project will serve as a milestone in modernizing Pakistan Railways.
Defence Secretary Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali and other senior officials appreciated the reform initiatives undertaken by the Federal Minister for Railways and commended his efforts for the overall improvement of Pakistan Railways. The senior officials expressed full confidence in the vision, leadership, and reform agenda of Federal Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed to further strengthen institutional cooperation and enhance mutual coordination in the future to effectively achieve national development goals and public welfare objectives in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.
