Railways revenue hits Rs 115b; Awam Express commercial management handed over to private sector; says Hanif Abbasi

RAWALPINDI, Nov 09 (APP): Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Monday announced that Pakistan Railways’ revenue has surged from Rs 88 billion to Rs 115.0 billion, crossing the historic Rs 100.0 billion milestone for the first time.

The minister expressed this while inaugurating the commercial management outsourcing of the Awam Express to AA Enterprises at Rawalpindi Railway Station.

The minister said that revenue is targeted at Rs 160.0 billion for FY26, attributing it to structural reforms, public-private partnerships, anti-theft measures and operational upgrades under the Prime Minister’s vision, with a December 31 deadline set to resolve remaining administrative challenges.

Under the new public-private management model for the Peshawar-to-Karachi Awam Express, passenger amenities have been enhanced with a premium lounge dining car and upgraded sanitation standards, which the minister inspected before interacting with passengers and cutting an Iqbal Day cake at the Divisional Superintendent’s (DS) Office.

The minister detailed broader network initiatives, including plans to outsource railway hospitals while retaining free medical care for staff, operationalizing free Wi-Fi across 60 stations, restoring Victorian-era architecture at Lahore and Rawalpindi stations with Punjab government assistance, and reactivating closed branch routes, alongside planning the ML-1 project with Asian Development Bank and World Bank assistance.

Hanif Abbasi later chaired a high-level operational meeting with DS Rawalpindi Nooruddin Dawar to review coach availability and train punctuality, followed by an inspection tour of the Rawalpindi Loco Shed to examine locomotive maintenance protocols.