Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, chaired a key meeting today on the Railway Advanced Infrastructure Network (RAIN) Project, which is the largest digitization initiative in the history of Pakistan Railways. During the session, the Directorate of IT delivered a detailed presentation highlighting the progress and implementation plans of the project.
The Minister was assured that Phase-I of the RAIN Project will be completed by June 2026. According to the Directorate of IT, Phase-I will be fully executed using Pakistan Railways’ own revenue, reflecting the organization’s financial self-reliance and operational sustainability.
The RAIN Project is the most comprehensive digitization initiative in the history of Pakistan Railways, and Phase-I has now been successfully executed. Key components of Phase-I include:
• Introduction of GPS tracking for all trains and locomotives.
• Establishment of Safe and Smart Railway Stations at major stations, modeled after the successful Rawalpindi station, with plans to upgrade other key stations similarly.
• Provision of high-speed internet at selected railway stations.
• Establishment of Command & Control Centers at the Lahore Headquarters and all divisional offices.
• Fiberization of 1,700 kilometers of the ML-1 railway network.
• Enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
Minister Hanif Abbasi emphasized that the RAIN Project will significantly reduce train delays and accidents, enhance passenger services, and improve overall operational efficiency. The new command and control systems will ensure rapid and effective responses in emergency situations.
The Minister reiterated that the RAIN Project represents a major step toward modernizing Pakistan Railways, making it a safe, efficient, and passenger-centric organization.
