RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has allocated Rs250 billion for a fast train project between Rawalpindi and Lahore. The project aims to reduce travel time between the two cities to just two hours. The funds will be spent over the next three years.
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi shared these details while speaking at a press event at the National Press Club. He said modern railway tracks and signaling systems would be installed under the project. He also announced an additional Rs100 billion for improving railway branch lines in other cities.
He said more than 170 acres of railway land, worth around Rs1f0 billion, had been recovered during the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign. The campaign follows a model introduced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Mr Abbasi said that for the first time in 77 years, a provincial government has made such a major investment in Pakistan Railways. He said Punjab, under Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, had launched railway projects worth Rs350 billion.
He said that Pakistan recently faced a major threat from a stronger enemy but successfully overcame it with national unity and the support of the Pakistan Army.
The minister stressed the need to adopt a development model like India, which has allocated Rs7 trillion for railways and Rs3 trillion for roads in its budget. “We must do the same to speed up development,” he said.
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He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was giving special attention to Pakistan Railways, and good news in the sector would be announced soon. However, without upgrading tracks, coaches, brakes, and the ML-1, ML-2, and ML-3 railway lines, progress cannot be achieved, he added.
New Local Train Routes Planned
The minister announced that a suburban rail service would soon begin on eight routes in Punjab, including:
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Shahdara to Narowal
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Narowal to Sialkot
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Lalamusa to Sargodha via Mandi Bahauddin
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Faisalabad to Shahinabad via Chak Jhumra
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Shorkot to Sargodha via Jhang
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Sheikhupura to Shorkot via Jaranwala
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Raiwind to Lodhran via Kasur and Pakpattan
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Kot Addu to Kashmore via DG Khan
He said the Punjab government had also allocated Rs9 billion to improve level crossings and develop a green belt from Shahdara to Kot Lakhpat.
Major Upgrades for Stations and Services
Mr Abbasi said work was ongoing to modernize railway stations, introduce easy ticket booking via mobile apps, and restore suspended train services like the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express.
Six railway hospitals and 14 schools and colleges will be outsourced, along with golf and country clubs, rest houses, and sleeper factories. He said there would be zero tolerance for late trains, and efforts were underway to improve track conditions.
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Train hostesses have been introduced to improve passenger service, while food quality at stations has also been improved. He said new steps would help boost earnings from freight trains.
The minister said solar panels were being installed at 355 railway stations, with 155 already completed. Elevators and escalators will be installed at major stations like Shahdara and Kot Lakhpat. Only ticket-holders will be allowed to enter stations, he added.
In Balochistan, the government plans to upgrade the Sariab-Kuchlak railway line and start a shuttle service. A railway ground is also being handed over to the provincial government for building an international stadium.
For Sindh, discussions are ongoing with the provincial government to restore branch railway lines.
The minister also said that all sports complexes in Rawalpindi and Lahore will be upgraded with modern facilities. Railway teams will take part in football matches in Balochistan, and there is also a plan to restore the railway cricket ground in Lahore.
