Pakistan Railways has approved a comprehensive strategic reform roadmap aimed at transforming the department into a modern, efficient, customer-oriented and financially sustainable organization.
Railways approves strategic roadmap for modernization, financial sustainability
ISLAMABAD, Sep 07 (APP):Pakistan Railways has approved a comprehensive strategic reform roadmap aimed at transforming the department into a modern, efficient, customer-oriented and financially sustainable organization.
“The roadmap focuses on strengthening freight operations, improving passenger services through infrastructure development, enhancing private-sector participation and accelerating digital transformation across the railway system,” an official in the Ministry of Railways told APP.
Under the reform plan, Pakistan Railways aims to increase its freight market share from the existing 8 percent to around 20 percent following the upgradation of Main Line-1 (ML-1), he said.
The initiative would focus on expanding the transportation of coal, containers, cement, fertilizers, rock phosphate and other bulk commodities to enhance the railway’s role in the national freight sector.
The official said the passenger share was also targeted to increase from the current 5 percent to 7.52 percent after completion of the ML-1 upgradation.
He said the modernization programme envisaged the upgradation of ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3 corridors to enhance line capacity, improve safety, reduce travel time and strengthen operational efficiency.
The programme would also include the development of freight terminals, marshalling yards and multimodal logistics parks, besides upgrading passenger facilities at railway stations, he added.
Under the digital transformation component, Pakistan Railways is introducing Wi-Fi services at major stations, e-ticketing through the RABTA system, real-time train tracking, passenger complaint management, smart railway stations, automated command and control systems, digital freight booking, automated weighbridges, freight parcel management services and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).
The official said the RABTA application was already fully functional, providing passengers with digital booking and payment facilities.
The SAP-based ERP system was supporting management of finances, procurement, inventory, stores, payroll and human resources, thereby improving transparency, operational efficiency and real-time decision-making.
He said Pakistan Railways also planned to outsource the management of selected hospitals and schools and encourage greater private-sector participation in commercial land development.
“The greater private-sector participation would help improve service delivery, attract investment and reduce the financial burden on the government while enhancing operational efficiency, service quality and revenue generation,” he added.
The reforms, he said, would ultimately improve passenger facilities and patronage, increase freight transportation and strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of Pakistan Railways.
