Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi announced a proposed $10 billion railway project that would build an 850-kilometer track from Kohat to Mazar-i-Sharif with a 75-kilometer extension to Uzbekistan.
Abbasi made the announcement during a visit to Faisalabad Railway Station, where he spoke about broader plans to upgrade and modernize Pakistan Railways.
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Abbasi said major initiatives including digitalization, infrastructure upgrades and outsourcing of services are expected to be completed this year. He said Faisalabad Railway Station will be upgraded to international standards within the next 45 days.
Under the digitalization drive, the ticketing system has been fully automated, the train tracking system is operational, and ATM machines have been installed at major stations, Abbasi said.
He also said WiFi services are being rolled out at 40 stations in Punjab in coordination with the provincial government, beginning in Lahore and extending to Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities.
The minister said the outsourcing process is due to be completed by September 30 and will cover nine to eleven passenger trains, freight services, rest houses, special saloons, hospitals, schools and other facilities. Special saloons once reserved for officials have been opened for public rental.
He added that solid waste management companies manage waste at several stations and that provincial food authorities have been granted direct access to monitor catering quality for passengers.
